SB 273 
.S73 
Copy 1 



L 



TOBACCO 



— IN- 



Virginia # North Carolina. 



Some observations in connection with 
the several types of Tobacco now pro- 
duced in these two States fincludino- 
Dr. Voelcker's examination of our 
Fine Yellow Tobacco), and on the 

j introduction of a new type, namely, 

i Cigar Tobacco. 



PRESENTED BY 

The Southern Fertilizing Company, 
RICHMOND, VA. 

Clemmltt & Jones, Printers, RiohmoiMf, Va 



MEMORANDUM. 

Now that the election is done, and the result declared, we can settle 
down to the sober routine of daily life, and, like earnest men, try to conquer 
a living from the times. 

We, in Virginia, are specially blest in the immunity we have enjoyed 
from the tyranny under which our brethren in the Cotton States have for 
80 many years groaned. Our recuperation though has been slow; the loss 
of eight hundred millions in property, and the taxable area covered by 
West Virginia, cannot be replaced at once. What has been accomplished, 
however, is no mean achievement, and taking heart from its contemplation, 
we will yet make Virginia, viewed in any way we like, a land of which our 
children may boast with an honest pride. The business of remoulding our- 
selves is a very hard one, but not too hard for men who are resolvedx^to win. 

That good people from abroad might be induced to share our fortunes, 
the State Board of Immigration last year took a step in the right direction 
when they issued that document (" Virginia : A 8aniviary,'' (f:c.) setting 
forth the attractions of our State. This book has been given considerable 
publicity, especially in the British Isles ; and we trust will be supplemented 
by the arrangement we urge in the pages following. We understand that 
inquiry concerning Virginia is very general in England, and we cannot too 
much rejoice at the prospect of a large influx of the blood and energy of 
that splendid people. 

We will not cease to hope and strive, coveting ever the spirit of old 
PuRCHAS, when he wrote: " I see many likely to be disheartened by the 
sender growth of the Virginia Plantation, which for the time might have 
been not only a safe but a blessed mother of a numerous and thriving geuer- 
ation, branching far into other colonies, and yet is ! / side no where, hut 
entwine Virginia with a right heart, my pen directed, my hands ea-ected, for 

HER GOOD." 



,.^^% 194/1 t^«WK€£'iiiif^'SCMOWW 



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■IVM. H. PALMER, President. A^^s. ^^- ^ ^- ^-^ YLOR, Chemist. 

JOHN END ERS, Vice-President. / *"• I c; \ State Chemist and Assayer. 

JOHN OTT, Secretary. \kl ^/^ ^•■^- GILHAM, Ass't Sec'y. 



The Southern Fertilizing Company, 

RICHMOND, Va., March /;, i8yy. 

To OUR Friends : 

As it was proper that our friends, engaged in the pro- 
•duction of Tobacco, should know what was being done elsewhere in the 
world, in this direction, we took the trouble, year before last, to get together 
the data, in a compact shape, showing how much was grown in each coun- 
try, what the character of the Tobacco was, how and where it was used, and 
the price it brought in the London market. The result of this exhibit indi- 
cated plainly the fact that unless the crop we grow commanded our best 
attention, and maintained a high standard of excellence in quality, we were 
by no means sure of a paying return for our labor. We saw, indeed, that, 
except the British Isles, and the most northerly part of the Continent, both 
in Europe and Asia, every people under the sun produced more or less of 
this crop ; and also, that some of them were diligent in their efforts to im- 
prove its quality. Steam and the telegraph having made the world a close 
community, we cannot, in the face of the active competition such a condition 
of things both permits and invites, pursue our business with eyes closed to 
what other people are doing in the same line. 

It will certainly not avail us to lay any particular stress on the production 
of low-grade Tobacco beyond what cannot be avoided ; because there are too 
many people in the world who cannot raise anything else, and with whom 
we cannot compete on equal terms. East India Tobacco may be taken as an 
example, and Germany, a large customer of ours, has of late been buying a 
good deal of it. The export of Tobacco from British India {British Board 
of Trade), 1872-'3, was 17,789,577 pounds, value £134,331, or 3| cents per 
pound; 1873-74, 21,337,432 pounds, value £165,275, or 3t'^ cents pei 
pound ; and 1874-5, 36,830,484 pounds, value £228,201, or 3tV cents per 
pound. From which we observe that the export more than doubled in three 
years, and that the price was exceedingly low.* 

*In the " Commercial Relations of the United States, 187^," we notice the following re- 
port of the United States Consul at Gibraltar. It shows a very important outlet to India for 
her Tobacco, and should be of interest to us : 

" On account of the high cost of Kentucky leaf Tobacco in the United States consequent 
on short crops, the importations in this class of Tobacco packed in hogsheads have some- 



Australia (notably New South Wales aud Victoria) is encouraging the- 
production of this crop, and Australia has ever been a heavy customer of 
ours. In 1875, 679,649 pounds were grown in New South Wales, and 
765,968 pounds in Victoria. The quality is poor, but the government is aid- 
ing the work by allowing a bonus to the manufacturer of domestic Tobacco- 
not enjoyed by that imported. Of course, unless the quality of the home- 
grown Tobacco is improved so as to approach that imported, the hojius would 
avail nothing. To our knowledge, the Australian commissioner to the Phil- 
adelphia exhibition availed himself of all the information accessible in thi» 
country, about the cultivation and curing of Tobacco. We are shamed by 
the energy and enterprise of this new people (based too as it was originally 
on a colony of convicts.) That people have already achieved wonders,* and 

what diminished during the past year (1875), but the deficiency has been more than fully 
met by large and constant supplies of East India descriptions, imported direct from Cal- 
cutta by steamers. This India Tobacco now interferes considerably with the sale of low 
grades of Kentucky and Virginia leaf, since importers can afford to sell it at comparatively 
lower rates. It is evident that with the improved cultivation that is now being generally 
diffused for the growing of Tobacco throughout India, this branch of trade with European 
markets will increase in importance, and may in future seriously interfere with the prospects 
for the sale of America* Tobacco, especially as regards the low or common grades of Ken- 
tucky and Virginia leaf. This India Tobacco is mostly used for chopping purposes, and 
answers well in the manufacture of cigarettes by mixing with other descriptions of Tobacco 
of higher grade and flavor. An active business has also been done in cigar cuttings (seed 
leaf) direct from the United States, as is proved by 3,425 cases having been landed here 
during the past year." 

*The following official figures, from the Statesman s Year Book, London, 1875, speak 
louder than words of the progress of Australia. They show what can be done by men re- 
solved to win. An export of $60,000,000 worth of wool in a single year is no trifling 
matter : 



Colonies. 


1869. 


1873. 


Value of ex- 
port of Wool 




Imports. 


Exports. 


Imports 


Exports. 


year 1872. 


New South Wales 

New Zealand 


£ 
7,700,743 
4,976,126 

1,717,472 

2,754,770 

75.412 

13,908,990 

256,730 


£ 
7,577,724 
4,224,860 
2,104,887 

2,993,035 
826,932 

13,464,354 
205,502 


£ 

11,088,388 

6,241,062 

2,881,726 

3,829,836 

1,107,137 

16,533,856 

297,328 


£ 
11,815,829 
5,521,800 

3,542,513 
4.587.859 

893,556 
15,302,454 

265,217 


£ 
3,342,900 
2,069,980 

497,252 
1,186,745 

279,194 
4,651,665 

120,796 


Queensland 




Tasmania 


Victoria 


Western Australia 


Total 


32,290,243 
$161,451,215 


31,397,294 
$156,986,470 


41,979,357 
$209,896,785 


41,929,228 
$209,646,140 


12,148,532 
$60,742,660 


Equal to 





The United States Consul at Melbourne reports : " The spendthrift system of continuous 
grain growing is fast giving place to a rational course of husbandly, into which the breed- 
ing of sheep enters largely. The wool trade, formerly second to gold, is now first in impor- 



^re leaving no effort untried to induce immigration to their shores from all 
parts of the world, and what is more, are securing the immigrants. They are 
prepared to show samples of everything their country has to offer to help 
the fortunes of the new comers. We, in Virginia, happy beyond most peoples 
in the bounty of Nature, are, in respect of the development of our resources, 
but little ahead of the kingdom of Powhatan when Capt. John Smith made 
its acquaintance. Of what avail is this wealth if we neither- use it ourselves, 
nor permit anybody else to use it ? Can we expect people to take an inter- 
est in us if we take none in ourselves? Will merely talking about these re- 
sources ever develop them ? We must show what we have, and show it in 
a way that people will understand it. We hold then that Virginia can 
make no possible investment that will bring better returns than the estab- 
lishment at her capital of a museum exhibiting her resources, embracing 
not only what is buried in the ground, but what also grows out of the 
ground. It would cost very little to arrange and maintain such an establish- 
ment ; and we do hope that, as poor as we are, the present Legislature will 
not adjourn without some action in this behalf. We want to extend our 
taxable area, first, that we may do something towards caring for our public 
obligations, and second, to relieve our unproductive lands of the burden they 
are now compelled to bear. Will not petitions go up from every county in 
the Commonwealth praying the Legislature to take this step ? This is a 
measure of true economy ; and that we must strive after if we are to get out 
of our troubles. Our sister State, North Carolina, is far in advance of us in 
enterprise. She has a museum at her capital, in charge of her own geolo- 
gist. Prof. W. C. Kerr, that would honor any State, There is found, pro- 
perly arranged in glass cases, specimens of all the minerals of the State, 
their location given with extent and character of deposit ; specimens of all 
the timber of the State, dressed and undressed ; samples of her building 
stone ; a complete collection of marls, with the analyses attached ; a full as- 
sortment of the medicinal herbs and roots to be found within her borders ; 
indeed, everything necessary to show to a stranger what North Carolina has 
to offer him to locate and invest his money there. Added to all this is a 



tance. It affords a permanent and secure occupation for the capitalists of the country. The 
climate of Australia is most favorable to sheep and cattle, which thrive wonderfully. It is 
especially suited for the merino sheep, which here attains its best development; conse- 
quently the wool produced has achieved a high standard of excellence, unsurpassed in any 
other part of the world. This is mainly due to the enterprise and judgment of flock owners, 
who have spared no cost to import and produce the most valuable sheep that can be had." 
The number of sheep in the colony of Victoria alone, was in 1875, 11,221,036. Does Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina give no hope as a sheep-growing region ? Is the lust for office 
still so strong in our leading men as to allow them to prevent the exercise of our energy in 
this direction, by a longer toleration of worthless dogs, mainly owned by hardly less worth- 
iless men, but men who have votes? This is a serious question; how will we answer it? 



map of the State of enormous dimensions, showing the character of her soils,, 
the location of her mines and forests, lines of transportation, market price of 
lands, &c. Should we have less? Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, are 
amply provided for in this particular, and their respective bureaux are pre- 
sided over by Virginia-born men, a compliment to us in one way, but a dis- 
• grace to us in another, — in this, that finding in their own State no demand 
for the exercise of their talents they were compelled to seek employment else- 
where, thus draining from the State the ability she so urgently needs to de- 
velop her own resources, and place her in the position the possession of these 
resources so eminently entitle her to occupy. Are we willing that this condi- 
tion of affairs should continue ? A man to fill such a position with credit can 
still be found within our borders, — can we afford to allow his acquirements 
to rust, or permit him, listening to more appreciative people elsewhere, to 
abandon his home? Let us think less of office-holding and more of building 
up the Commonwealth. It is the first duty of every man of us to do all in 
his power to improve the general interest ; if that prospers he prospers of 
course. In this connection, how does the Tobacco interest fare ? We have- 
nothing whatever reliable showing the extent of our crop each year; what 
proportion the production of each particular type bears to the whole ; how 
much enters our markets from other States; in few words, this great interest 
is allowed to go utterly at random, and the buyers being uncertain as to how 
they should proceed, the margin to cover the doubt must be provided by the 
seller. The person in charge of our museum could see also to our crop sta- 
tistics, and thus save us from the mortification of being unable to answer 
the necessary questions that daily arise in the business of moving our crops. 

Last year, we gave a historical account of Tobacco in Virginia, to show 
how, from the beginning, it has been the chief source of income to our peo- 
ple, and how that, through the means it provided, the Colony of Virginia 
very soon reached a commanding position, allowing as they did her sons to- 
receive the benefit of ample culture in the best schools, and to dispense a 
hospitality only possible to long established countries, working in the regular 
way. The position Virginia held in the respect not only of the rest of this 
country, but throughout the world, was no mean boast. The war came to 
waste her fields and destroy her children, but the heritage of glorious man- 
hood left by that struggle, makes her still rich, giving the boys who are now 
her hope strength to maintain her prestige ; yea more, add to the lustre of 
her renown. 

We propose now to present some general observations concerning this 
crop, in respect especially of the several types peculiar to our region, and 
ascertain, as far as may be, the points of encouragement the prospect has 
to show. 

The country has made very slow progress, if any, in recovering from the- 
panic of 1873. The wretched policy of the General Government has been 



the chief cause of this tardy reaction looking to better times. It has been 
lawless and corrupt in the extreme ; it has squandered the people's money 
with an abandon unprecedented in the history of the country ; and its in- 
famy has reached the climax in seating an unelected man in the chair of the 
Presidency. We, in the South, did all we could in voting for the man who 
represented the idea of relief from oppression ; beyond this we were power- 
less to go. The new man has begun his career, — and his promises, as far as 
they affect us, are very satisfactory. Will they be realized in his acts f By 
these only are we to judge him ; and if they are fair and generous, of course 
we will not fail to respond. Eegard always begets regard, and oppression 
hatred. We are compelled to live under his rule, — and being so, will 
meet his friendly approaches to the fullest extent consistent with our self- 
respect and the maintenance of our principles. 

At the last session of Congress, the friends of the Tobacco interest were not 
idle. The Committee, of which the Hon. John Randolph Tucker, of Vir- 
ginia, was chairman, presented an exhaustive report on the Tobacco Tax: 
They showed how the North and East, by securing the repeal of the income 
tax, and entire immunity from taxation in connection with their manufac- 
tures (whose name is legion), and on the United States bonds in which a 
large portion of their money was invested, had shifted the burden of sus- 
taining the government almost entirely to the shoulders of the West and 
the Tobacco-growing States of the South.* 

*We take the following tables from the Report of the Committee, that they may be per- 
petuated. They are an instructive lesson to our children : 

States. 1867. 1875. 

NORTHEASTERN STATES. 

Maine ^2,326,380 90 $107,476 15 

New Hampshire 2,882,147 20 299,389 55 

Vermont 986,279 35 58,582 18 

Massachusetts 28,088,077 60 2,708,01429 

Rhode Island 5,049,974 00 231,978 00 

Connecticut 7,582,970 5.7 627,717 96 

Total .^46.915,829 42 Ro33,i55 13 

MIDDLE STATES. 

New York 58,825,159 06 15,238,881 81 

New Jersey, 7,890,262 61 2,363,46941 

Pennsylvania 27,580,633 30 6,157,960 04 

Delaware 785,967 28 360,331 03 

Total ^95,082,021 95 ^24,120,642 29 

NORTHWESTERN STATES. 

Ohio , , 19,902,527 66 14,662,720 17 

Indiana 4,122,863 98 4,653,789 05 

Illinois 12,112,985 84 17,634,626 71 

Michigan 3,112,070 47 1,931,284 80 



As showing the bearing of this tax, on both producer and consumer, we 
quote some extracts from the Committee's Report : 

" In the case of toljacco, the range of prices for which is very gi'eat, the excise is the 
same for all. The lower-priced tobacco consumed by the poorer classes is, like the higher 
priced consumed by the rich, burdened with the excise of 24 cents. Without this tax the 

States. 1867. 1872. 

Wisconsin 2,513,025 41 2,722,076 75 

Iowa 2,074,05235 1,040,217 69 

Minnesota 452,104 42 228,362 45 

Kansas 367,543 lo 13368586 

Nebraska 107,075 34 292,472 30 

Montana 77,431 I4 23,666 10 

Dakota , 1,900 02 10,040 18 

Colorado 151,68651 70,53l 82 

Arizona 2,665 23 10,263 06 

Idaho 81,236 90 19,136 00 

Utah 64,296 34 31.899 68 

Wyoming — — — 11,942 11 

Total .$43.^44,364 71 $ 43.476,694 73 

SOUTH MIDDLE STATES. 

Maryland 6,162,177 85 2,760,736 57 

Virginia 1,966,73202 7,660,921 20 

West Virginia 944,52441 508,868 20 

North Carolina 1,648,752 35 1,630,423 58 

Kentucky 5,415,13402 9,025,587 88 

Missouri 6,494,095 53 4,594,875 31 

Total .^22,631,406 18 $26,181,412 74 

SOUTH COTTON STATES.* 

South Carolina 1,816,894 21 122,277 92 

Georgia 4,487,440 90 388,226 84 

Florida 557.98856 184,777 59 

Alabama 4,119,130 23 115,689 37 

Mississippi 4,583,182 77 96,967 92 

Louisiana 6,226,787 86 606,26438 

Texas 3,211,863 59 258,243 29 

Arkansas ^ 1,752,157 18 75,51744 

Tennessee 3.349.459 51 861,645 28 

Total , ^30,104,904 81 $2,709,524 03 

PACIFIC STATES AND TERRITORY, 

California , 6,757,131 69 2,988,033 26 

Oregon 351.45° 16 47.939 64 

Nevada 290,174 24 58,803 30 

Washington Territory 78,911 80 21,14660 

Total ■ 1 7,477,667 89 g3, 115, 922 80 

This result needs to be corrected by reference to the fact that the whole internal revenue 
* The great falling off in the Cotton States is due to the repeal of the cotton tax. 



laborer may buy for smoking or chewing an article at the price of say 6 cent*. The excise 
raiaes it to 30 cents, a tax of 400 per cent. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue esti- 
mates the average consumption to be 15 pounds of manufactured tobacco to each consumer, 
and 246 cigars, which represents about 6 pounds, or 21 pounds in all, valued at $1.26. 
Thus the price to the consumer of this lower priced tobacco would be raised by the excise 
from $1.26 to ^6.30 per annum ; or he would pay ^5.04 tax for his consumption of tobacco 
worth $1.26. And when it is remembered that the mass of the laboring men of the coun- 
try use this article, it will be seen how burdensome upon labor is this tax upon a simple ar- 
ticle of those so-called luxuries which he is able to enjoy. 

" On the other hand, the higher priced article, say worth 20 cents cents a pound, is taxed 
the same, 24 cents per pound, or 120 per cent. ; in the aggregate only the same total tax 
of $5.04 per pound. The tax on the poor and the rich is alike, with this marked difference : 
that the poor pays the same tax for the most inferior article that the rich does for the best; 
in other words, the laborer pays 30 cents per pound for an inferior tobacco under the tax, 
when, without the tax, he could buy for two-thirds that price the very best quality of 
tobacco. 

"Such a rate of tax must decrease consumption and must diminish production; or, as 
consumption would decrease at an enhanced price, the producer must lower his price to in- 
duce the same quantum of consumption. Thus this heavy excise must tax consumer and 
producer, and will especially operate upon the producers of the lov^'er grades of tobacco, 

" But tobacco is a staple with which the producer buys the necessaries of his daily life, 
and which, if to be restricted by the device of excise, because a hurtful luxury to the con- 
sumer, will deprive the country of an important source of wealth, decrease the value of 
lands in many of the States, and ruin many of their citizens. The Government should not, 
if it had the power, and cannot, because it has not, pervert a revenue power into an instru- 
ment for striking down an industry which for more than two hundred and fifty years has 
been a prime source of wealth to the Southern States, and is now to many of the Western 
States, and which in all the States is the source of employment in manufacturing industry 
to thousands of laboring men, who ask and receive no bounties, but only ask not to be de- 
stroyed by taxation. 

" The heavy tax leads to exportation of the leaf tobacco, to escape it, and drives manu- 
facturing industry out of this country to others where it is not so burdened. For to manu- 
facture for export is almost out of the question. Production of the leaf will be decreaseil. 
More will be consumed by the producer without sale for manufacture. And fraud on the 
revenue is the ready resource of unscrupulous traders to avoid an onerous tax, and to era 
ble him to reap, in competition with the honest trader, the amount of revenue he takes f r j r 
the Government. 

" A wise and just policy will seek to ascertain the lowest and not the highest e .cise 
which will secure the desired quantum of revenue. To select the higher when the lower 

in 1867 was ^248,124,761.23; in 1875, ^103,771,664.60, or in the last year it was only as, 
say, 104 to 248, or as 13 to 31. Thus rectified, we would have this result, approximately : 

Proper proportion 
1867. Actual in 1875. in 1875. 

Northeastern States $46,915,829 42 $ 4,003,155 13 $19,674,380 

Middle States, 95,082,021 95 24,120,642 29 39,808,589 

Northwestern States , 45,144,364 71 43,476,694 73 18,931,507 

South Middle States 22,631,406 18 26,181,412 74 9,490,587 

South Cotton States. 30,104,904 81 2,587,246 11 12,624,637 

Pacific States 7,477,667 89 3,115,922 80 3,^35>79^ 



10 

will secure thfsame revenue under each, is to tax the producer through the consumer, un- 
duly and unjustly, to the detriment of the industry employed in production." * 

The following, extracted from the evidence given before the Committee 
by prominent manufacturers, is pleasant reading to a people who have a 
right to expect their public burdens to be equally distributed ; 

Mr. Spence : There is a large amount of low-grade smoking Tobacco raised in all To- 
bacco districts, and were this tax reduced, for instance from twenty- four to sixteen cents, it 
would add probably three dollars a hundred additional value to all that Tobacco. 

Mr. Tucker : To the producer ? 

Mr. Spence : To the producer. Now there is no market for it; he can't sell it because 
this tax is really repelling our manufacture — it is extinguishing it. You know a process of 
that kind once fairly under headway often goes on with great celerity. It is a thing which 
has already commenced. 

Mr. Tucker : Then the effect will ultimately be that Tobacco will be the luxury of the 
rich, and the poor will be debarred from it ? 

Mr. Spence: Yes, sir; and it will cease to be an article of commerce. 

Mr. Catlin : The present high rate of tax is driving the low-grades of Tobacco out of 
the market. The producer can't dispose of it at any price. 

This presents of itself a good reason why the proportion of low-grades 
should be restricted as much as possible ; certainly as long as this tax bears 
with the severity it does now. 

Whether Congress will listen to these appeals, and provide the remedy 
remains to be seen. Of this we may rest assured, however, that the friends 
of this great interest in that body will leave no effort untried to secure relief 
from this most unjust and ruinous discrimination. 

Referring to our heavy shipping Tobacco, we find statements of similar im- 
port to the following constantly occurring in Tobacco circulars from abroad : 
" Manufacturers have satisfied themselves that large aggregate stocks do^ 
not always insure a plentiful supply of desirable Tobacco.'" When we con- 
sider that our " fine qualities (to use the words of the best posted Tobacco 
man in the London market,) cannot be dispensed with," we certainly have 
reason to try, in our production, to secure the largest proportion possible of fine 
quality. With so much of our crop now in the hands of negroes, as tenant 
farmers, the market is bound to show a very considerable quantity of indif- 
ferent Tobacco, but the white men, whether larg? or small farmers, having 
the requisite intelligence and skill, have it in their power, the season at all 
favoring, to bring a handsome result. It is then, not the largest number of 
pounds that will command the most money, but the pounds of good quality. 
In the cultivation of heavy Tobaccos, no concentrated manure should be 
used as a substitute for the manures produced on the place ; it is always- 
found that the best result is obtained, both in weight and quality, when 
these manures are used in conjunction. Each adds to the value of the other^ 
fulfilling every requisite, whether chemical or mechanical, demanded by the- 



11 

crop, [It is a source of great pleasure to us to note the more general spread of 
inquiry for information concerning their calling, among the farming commu- 
nity, than used to prevail. It would be a shame if our people refused to 
avail themselves of the researches, bearing on soils and plants, now in pro- 
gress so generally throughout the thickly peopled portions of the earth. 
The results of these researches are accessible to every man, and the better 
and more economical management they indicate, becomes a portion of the 
farmer's capital. The man is not wise who is content to profit by his own 
experience alone ; he is wise if he adds to it the experience of everybody 
else.] We have much land in the State where only heavy shipping Tobacco 
can be grown. The west, (especially Tennessee and Kentucky,) being una- 
ble, years ago, to compete with our product of this type, have improved the 
quality of their growth, and now, with not a few European buyers, it is 
preferred to much of ours. Now, we must hold our own. While it may 
be urged, and justly too, that the labor at our command is not reliable, 
still we should be able to select enough that was good to enable us to 
effect our ends. The experience of Maj. R. L. Ragland, of Halifax, 
and Mr. J. G. Tinsley, of Hanover, published in the Planter and 
Far^ner, should be of value generally in this direction. A smaller 
area, well tended and managed, the proprietor giving it the same close 
attention a city man habitually gives to his business, will, assuming sea- 
sons to be reasonably propitious, hardly fail to show a result on the right 
side of the account. A very intelligent tobacco grower from Europe spent 
some two years in Virginia, since the war, and, when he was about to leave 
for home, honored us with a visit. We asked him for his unreserved opin- 
ion of our people, when he answered, "Circumstanced as you all are, the far- 
mer in Virginia must be his own overseer. Few peoples are as well off as 
you are in natural advantages, and it is largely your own fault if you do 
not make them available." We could not gainsay his opinion, knowing that 
where there is a will there is generally a way, and what had been accom- 
plished the world over by men who were detemnined to succeed. The loca- 
tion and conformation of Virginia, her ready accessibility to all the rest of 
the world, her manifold productions — both mineral and vegetable, her power 
ready-made to utilize them, all point to a community able to develop a har- 
monious whole, and secure a prosperity vouchsafed to few countries in this 
"world. If we never try we certainly will never win. 

Conferring, as we have, with the heaviest shippers abroad of our Tobacco, 
we learn this : Virginia is compelled to give more attention to the production 
of fine Tobacco, or she cannot maintain herself in the tnarhets of the world. 
Taking their judgment with that of the Tobacco-men in Europe, and our 
course is plain. Will we not do our best to meet this demand? The stocks 
of American Tobacco of this sort held throughout the world are not exces-- 



12 

sive ; * but too small a proportion of this Tobacco is of a desirable character. 
We have heard much of Hungary, but on good Tobaccos we have very 
little to fear there ; she has indeed none to spare. In the Austrian Empire 
there was grown in 1873, 604,000 Vienna centner (123^ pounds), or 74,594,000 
pounds; in 1874,513,000 centner, or 63,355,500 pounds. Of these crops, 
Hungary produced, in 1873, 430,000 centner, and in 1874, 424,000 centner. 
With such large crops, the Austrian Empire imported, in 1874, Tobacco 
(561,510 centner) valued at 39,756,400 florins, exporting only 3,781,620 
florins' worth. In the half-year ending June 30, 1875 (the date of the last 
official advices accessible), she imported to the value of 18,821,560 florins, 
and exported but 1,879,940 florins' worth. Germany too imports as much 
as she grows. Against our low-grades, the world at large can furnish sub- 
stitutes enough, and at prices that drive us from the market ; for our fine- 
grades there is no subsitute. We are unwise then if we do not profit by this 
advantage. 

The chief position has always been given to our shipping Tobacco because 
Virginia Tobaccos originally were all shipped. f As time passed, the home 



*The following, from the Tobacco Circular of R. L. Maitland & Co., of New York, March 1, will show the 
stocks on hand as reported to that date: 

1877. 
hhds. 

New York, February 28th 18,162 

Baltimore, " 24th 10,711 

24th 7.279 

1st 35,000 

1st 17,203 

1st 8,161 

96,606 



New Orleans, 
Liverpool, 
London, 
Bremen, 



1876. 


1875. 


1874. 


1873. 


hhds. 


hhds. 


hhds. 


hhds. 


20,530 


42,254 


10,282 


7,153 


10,925 


12,082 


11,154 


7,720 


3,903 


4,250 


4,949 


1,034 


26,192 


32,873 


27,667 


16,891 


13,500 


17,510 


15,415 


13,547 


3,637 


2,350 


4,857 


1,981 


78,687 


111,319 


74,324 


48,326 



f As showing an item in the Tobacco operations of "old times," we present the following Table of Ex- 
ports from Virginia, from 1745 to 1756. It will be observed how entirely the product was confined to the 
Tide-water country. These figures are gotten from " The Fairfaxes of England and America in the nth 
• nd ISth Centuries: 



TOBACCO e.x 


ported from Vi 


■ginia from 1^4^ to 


^5^- 








EXPORTS. 


1745. 


1746. 


1747. 


1748. 


1749. 


1760. 


1751. 


1752. 


1753. 


1754. 


1755. 


1756. 


Upper district of James River, 


10,991 


10,799 


9,355 


12,489 


11,509 


12,974 


10,858 


13,530 


18,830 


13,900 


13,739 


7,262 


Lower district of James River, 


1,381 


1,372 


1,718 


3,170 


3,150 


2,218 


2,525 


1,423 


2,113 


1,181 


918 


1,096 


York River, 


11,118 


11,015 


12,895 


11,089 


10,970 


13,802 


12,054 


12,623 


15,127 


14,878 


15,344 


6,918 


Rappahannock, 


12,332 


10,745 


12,132 


13.052 


15,012 


14,331 


13,563 


14,299 


16,815 


13,512 


11,963 


8,531 


South Potomac, 


6,659 


6,311 


5,704 


6,983 


7,346 


5,242 


7,713 


6,505 


6,959 
3 


7,332 


5,723 


4,645 








Accomack, 11 bbls. in 1755-'6. 




















Hogsheads — Total, . 


42,481 


40,242 


41,804 


46,783 


47,987 


48,567 


46,703 


48,380 


59,847 


50,803 


47,687 


28,452 



13 

consumption confined itself largely to the " sweet-scented" sun-cured To- 
bacco produced north of the James River. This fine type, known in 
the trade d^?, '^ manufacturing ," \s now grown mainly in Louisa, Caroline,. 
King William, Spotsylvania, and portions of Essex, Goochland and Flu- 
vanna. It furnishes the stock for all the finest brands of chewing Tobacco 
produced by our factories ; and what is more, except in a few spots elsewhere 
in the State, is without a competitor. This type of Tobacco does not require 
the same proportion of gross manures, in its production of fine quality, as 
our heavy shipping, — but these manures should not be neglected. Next to 
proper size and body, in this type of Tobacco, we are assured by the manu- 
facturers who purchase it in largest quantity, that to bring " the top of the 
market," it must be indeed sun-cured, and not air-cured, or dried out in the 
barn. With the immunity from competition enjoyed by this favored region 
what is to prevent its advance? The demand takes all now produced, and 
will take more if it is to be had of a quality to suit ; and, unless the season 
is exceptionally bad, this element of the question is entirely within the con- 
trol of the grower. We urge then upon our friends there the best work in 
their power, knowing that this work, well directed, will not be in vain. 

The next type, and belonging by distinction to Virginia and North Caro- 
lina, is the bright yellow, used for smoking and plug wrappers. This To- 
bacco is peculiarly adapted to the light gray soils of lower Virginia and up- 
per and western North Carolina. In its cultivation gross manures are not 
desirable, as delicacy of texture and high color are indispensable to 
secure fine prices. The production has increased enormously, a steady 
demand existing, at good prices, for all that is grown. Through the hand- 
ling of this Tobacco, Danville and Durham owe their wonderful growth 
since the war. The transactions (in this Tobacco almost exclusively) at 
Danville, during the year ending September 30, 1876, reached 23,466,413 
pounds. Proper machinery has been contrived to shred this Tobacco so as 
to render it serviceable in the production of cigarettes. Much has been said 
of the Russian cigarettes, made from Turkish Tobacco ; but we are per- 
suaded that when our fine yellow has time to become generally known it will 
supplant all others for this purpose. Already large factories in this country 
are engaged in their production, and the favor with which they are received 
induces the belief that they will enter largely into the consumption of Eu- 
rope as well as of the United States. Wishing to get the opinion, on this 
Tobacco, of one of the most distinguished chemical authorities in the world, 
and believing that nothing could prove more interesting to the planters who 
produced it, we submitted last year, a large assortment of samples to Dr. 
Augustus Voelcker, F. R. S., Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultu- 
ral Society of England. The Doctor gave the matter a very thorough exam- 
ination, and submitted to us the results he obtained. They will be found in 
the following communication. It will be observed that this Tobacco has 



14 

two points that must commend it to universal use : first, in respect of its 
healthfulness, the extremely small percentage of nicotine it contains, — and, 
second, in respect of comfort and pleasure in its use, the almost entire ab- 
sence of nitrates. It must prove to be a matter of great gratification to oar 
people in the bright Tobacco country to know thus fully the value of " this 
magnificent Tobacco " : 

Analytical Laboratory, ii Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E. C, 

London, December 7, iSyb. 
Mr. John Ott, Secretary, &c., Richmond, Va., 

My Dear Sir : — You will remember having sent me, some time ago, a packet of 
Tobacco leaf, labelled " Fancy Bright Tobacco, from Granville county. North Carolina," 
which you desired me to analyse. I have now completed the examination, and have much 
pleasure in handing you the results obtained, both in the analysis of the organic and the 
inorganic parts of this magnificent Tobacco. The dried leaf, when analysed, had the fol- 
lowing general composition : 

Moisture 14.68 

Organic matter 72.07 

Mineral matter (ash) 13-25 



In comparing this general statement with the results which Prof. Johnson, of Yale col- 
lege,* obtained some years ago, in the examination of a specimen of Fancy Bright Tobacco, 

*The following table will show the analysis (No. 13) to which Dr. Voelckeb refers. Prof. Johnson being 
engaged in the examination ol Tobacco for the Connecticut State Board of Agriculture, this Company fur- 
■aished him samples showing all the types peculiar to Virginia and North Carolina. Of these, he ana- 
lysed the sample of " fancy bright," raised by Mr. E. E. Lyon, of Granville county, N. C. On the receipt of 
the above communication from Dr. Voelcker, we submitted it at once to Prof. Johnson, who, but for very 
infirm health, would have furnished us with a paper on the subject. The first twelve analyses are of Cigar 
vseed leaf) Tobacco, and will be interesting considered in connection with the matter of Cigar Tobacco, treated 
<'lBewhere in this document: 



Tobacco Leaf. 
(When and where raised.) 



1. Crop 1871. H. S. Porter, Mass 

2. Crop 1S71. J. M. Smith, Mass 

•3. Crop 1871. H. L. Loomis, Mass 

4. Crop 1871. Alden Smith, Conn 

■5. Crop 1871. Levi Wells, Conn 

■6. Crop 1872. Levi Wells, Conn 

7. Crop 1872. J. P. Brewster, Conn 

8. Crop 1872. W. D. Hall, Conn 

9. Crop 1872. H. 0. Warner, Conn 

10. Crop 1872. H.O. Warner, Conn 

11. Crop 1872. Dr. Riggs, Conn 

12. Crop 1872. J. H. Hinman, Conn 

13. Crop 1872. E. B. Lyon, Granville Co., N. C. 

Average of the New England Tobaccos 

Average of 30 varieties (28 from Kentucky) 
analysed by Dr. Peter 

Leaf and Stalk — analysed by Dr. C. T. Jack- 
son, 1858 

W. H. Dickinson, Mass. Leaf 

W. H. Dickinson, Mass. Stalk 



J 





1 

1 

ja 
c 





0.21 


0.87 


1.21 


047 


0.19 


1.35 


L4fi 


0.52 


0.30 


0.12 


0.99 


O.SO 


0.12 


2.50 


1 69 


0.68 


0.19 


147 


0.74 


O.CO 


0.05 


1..58 


I.Ofi 


0.64 


O.U 


2.00 


1.,S8 


60 


0.12 


O.OS 


1.18 


0.64 


0.11 


2.49 


0.98 


76 


0.07 


0.X4 


0.84 


0,48 


0.08 


2.5.5 


1.07 


62 


0.09 


2.62 


0.,52 


0.68 


0.12 


0.20 


0.36 


0.73 


0.14 


1.55 


1.09 


0.59 


0.35 


0.48 


0.54 


0.64 


•> 


0.32 


0.52 


1.44 


0.04 


0.32 


0.22 


1.33 



6.48 
8.23 
3.17 
3.61 
6.70 
6.14 
7.03 
4.21 
5.11 
6.06 
6.38 
5.41 
2.44 

5.71 

4.53 



•1 

a 



3.90 


ci 
■a 

CO 
1.81 


c 

■si 

IS, 
03 


OS 


1..31 


16.26 


83.74 


1.24 


4..53 


0.,37 


17.88 


82.02 


1.01 


7.46 


0,29 


14.13 


8.i,87 


1.13 


6.43 


9.34 


16.45 


83.55 


2.21 


4.79 


0.20 


16.90 


83.10 


1.74 


5.49 


08 


16 78 


83.22 


1.77 


4.82 


18 


17.85 


82 15 


1 04 


4.93 


0.12 


12.32 


87 68 


0.94 


7.03 


19 


17.60 


82.40 


1.01 


6 53 


0.10 


15.93 


84 07 


1.51 


7.01 


0.18 


19.40 


80.60 


1.41 


6.68 


Oil 


17.32 


82.68 


1.05 


3.54 


0.09 


8.53 


91.47 


1.36 


5.79 


0.33 


16.56 


83.44 


120 


4.82 


0.27 


12.83 


87.17 


30 


3.86 


1.14 


12.45 


87.55 


0.30 


4.29 


0.98 


8.63 


9137 



5.11 
3.78 
3 20 
4.42 
4.32 
3.89 
4.93 
2.83 

4.24 



15 

from Granville county, N. C, you will notice that whilst the Professor found only 8.53 per 
cent, of ash, the sample you sent me contained 13.25 per cent. Now, whilst I do not 
doubt, for a moment, the correctness of Prof. Johnson's determination, I may be allowed to 
say that 8^ per cent, is an exceptionally low per centage of mineral matter in Tobacco 
leaves ; for, in all the recorded analyses of Tobacco, which I could lay hold of, — analyses 
made in your country as well as in others made on the Continent, I do not find any other 
specimen which yielded as little as 8^ per cent, of ash, and the per centage which I ob- 
tained in the sample you sent me agrees better with the average amount of mineral matter 
in Tobacco. The proportion of ash constituents in Tobacco, however, I find varies con- 
siderably, and usually amounts to over 12 per cent., and in some instances reaches to 20 per 
cent, in round numbers. 

I have made a complete analysis of the ash of the sample you sent me, and embody the 
results in the following tabulated statement showing the — 

'Composition of the Mineral portion [ask) of a sample of Fancy Bright Tobacco, grown in 
Granville county, JV. C, and sent to Dr, Voelcker, by Mr. fohn Ott, Seeretaty, &^c. of 
Richmond : 

Lime... 23.39 

Magnesia , 4.05 

Oxide of Iron .81 

Potash 18.55 

Chloride of Potassium 5.82 

Chloride of Sodium 7.17 

Phosphoric Acid 3.36 

Sulphuric Acid 3.37 

Soluble Silica 13.80 

Fine Sand 5.72 

Carbonic Acid and Loss 1396 



Deducting Sand and Carbonic Acid, and the composition of the pure Tobacco is as 
follows : 

Lime 29.12 

Magnesia 5 04 

Oxide of Lon i.oi 

Potash 23.09 

Chloride of Potassium 7.25 

Chloride of Sodium 8.93 

Phosphoric Acid 4.18 

Sulphuric Acid 419 

Soluble Silica 17.19 



I find merely traces of nitrates in the Fancy Bright Tobacco, which, perhaps, is one of 
the reasons why this Tobacco has a very mild taste ; for, in all biting, strong Tobaccos, I find 
invariably nitrates are present in considerable proportions. 

Another, and still more important fact, which my investigation has brought to light, is 
that the Granville county Tobacco you sent me contains little nicotine, which I am inclined 
to regard as a good feature of this kind of Tobacco. In coarse, strong Tobaccos, notably 
the inferior Tobaccos grown in the Palatinate (Bavaria), and some of the coarse (highly 
manured) Virginia Tobaccos, they are found to contain much more nicotine, some as high 
as three or four times as much as I find in the " Fancy Bright." 



16 

The following table shows the detailed composition of the sample of Fancy Bright Gran- 
ville county Tobacco, sent by Mr. John Ott, Secretary, &'c., and analysed by Dr, 
Voelcker : 

Moisture 14.68 

*Gum, extractive matters and other substances, soluble in water 36.17 

Mineral matters, soluble in water ., 8.92 

Nicotine 1-37 

Resinous compounds, Oil and other constituents, soluble in ether and 

alcohol 6.68 

{Digestible woody fibre 14-43 
Indigestible woody fibre (pure cellulose) 12.42 
Mineral matter, insoluble in water 4.33 = 32.18 



♦Containing Nitrogen -47 

fNitrogeu in portion insoluble in water .44 

Total percentage of Nitrogen .91 



In other recorded Tobacco analyses, I find the proportion of nitrogen is given much higher ; 
and for this reason I was particularly anxious to verify my results by repeated determinations, 
which closely agreed in the second decimals, and leave no doubt in my mind that the Fancy 
Bright Granville Tobacco contains a comparatively very small amount of nitrogenous (albu- 
minous) compounds. Perhaps, this explains the delicate flavor of the Tobacco smoke of 
this kind of Tobacco ; for it is well known that albuminous and other nitrogenous com- 
pounds, when largely present in materials submitted to dry distillation (and smoking is a 
familiar illustration of destructive dry distillation) give off disagreeable-smelling ammoniacal 
vapours, reminding one more or less of singed feathers or burnt horn. Be this as it may, 
the Fancy Bright Granville county Tobacco certainly is one of the finest flavoured, mild To- 
baccos I ever smoked, and it is certainly a fact that it is poor both in nicotine and albumi- 
nous compounds, which I am inclined to regard as a good and distinguishing characteristic 
of delicate flavored mild Tobaccos. 

How variable the proportions of nitrogen and ash are in Tobacco, you will notice in the 
following determinations which I made of three other samples of (prepared) Tobacco 
which you kindly sent me : 

Percentage of Nitrogen and Ash in three specimens of Tobacco, dried at 212° Fahrenheit. 

Percentage of Nitrogen. Percentage of Ash. 

" Lone Jack" Tobacco 1. 65 14-93 

" Perfection Straight Cut Matchless 
Cavendish," prepared by John F. 

Allen & Co., Richmond 1.68 16.48 

Louisiana '• Perique" Tobacco, grown 

in St. James Parish (crop of 1872.).. 304 20.55 

You will observe that the strong Perique Tobacco is much richer in nitrogen and ash 
than the two milder kinds. 

Of course, I merely throw out, by way of suggestion, that delicate flavoured mild Tobacco 
is likely to be found always poor in nitrogen. An extended series of analyses alone would 
be required to establish this point. If my engagements permitted it, I should feel much 
interested in following up this line of investigation, but I have my hands so full of work, 
and the subject of Tobacco growth is of no immediate interest to British agriculturists, that 
I am obliged to leave so important and interesting a work as that of a thorough Tobacco 
investigation to others more favourably situated than I am. 
Believe me, my dear sir, yours faithfully, 
(Signed) AUGUSTUS VOELCKER. 



Shomn/j the looafiojz 



OF THE 



JiimssicandTriassifJiorks 

in Virginia 

Bi/Jed. NotdikissTF. 



IfS77. 



Scale 



Miles. 



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'ftf incdenck City 



Shoniri/f fhflomtiojt 

OF THE 

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17 

CIGAR TOBACCO. 

If, as in old times, the bulk of our Tobacco production was confined to 
"heavy shipping," we in "Virginia, would fare badly indeed in the face of 
the competition of Kentucky and Tennessee, producing as they do so abun- 
dantly of this particular type. We are happy then in the diversity that 
now prevails in the character of the Tobacco we grow. We have three dis- 
tinct types ; why may we not have a fourth, namely, Cigar Tobacco f The 
more numerous our types, consistent with proper attention to crops of sub- 
sistence, and a demand existing for the product, the more certain the grower 
of each is of a paying return for his crop. Whether from our central location, 
or other cause, it is a fact that of the three types we already grow, no other 
portion of the country can produce them of such quality as we can, save in 
the matter of "fancy bright," where North Carolina stands unejicelled. 

We see, referring to Cigar Tobacco, what has been accomplished as far 
north as New England, in the production of this Tobacco, and how, under 
a lower latitude (in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania), the quality has been 
improved. Should not a still lower latitude improve still more its quality ? 
Indeed, in this, as in other vegetable products, the soils favoring, the flavor 
becomes more pronounced in proportion as we approach the equator. In 
Florida,* there is produced a very fine leaf for cigars, and between 10° and 
30° north latitude we see it in perfection, namely, in Cuba and the Phillip- 
pine Islands. 

We have had this matter of Cigar Tobacco in our mind for several years 
past, and believe the day has come when we may, with propriety, propose 
its consideration in a definite shape to our friends ; and to indicate the 
localities in the State where, considering the character of the soils on which 
New England and Pennsylvania "seed leaf" is grown, it is believed it will 
reach the greatest perfection, we sought the good ofiices of Maj. Jed. Hotch- 
Kiss, Topographical Engineer, Staunton, Va., in the preparation of a map 
and description of these localities. The map is submitted herewith, and the 

description contained in the following communication. We are in corres- 

._ / 

*The following communication, relative to Florida Tobacco, was received by the United States Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture : — 

" The Gadsden ' wrapper-leaf was always in high repute, and extensively used in the manufacture of 
cigars, being in siz", fineness and texture fully equal to the best Cuba, and far superior to the Connec- 
ticut seed leaf Where the variety known as the Cuba-filler has been tried, it has succeeded finely in this 
county. We need but the capital to manufacture our Tobacco into cigars (thus affording us a home mar- 
ket for the raw material) to make the cultivation of it the most profitable crop that is grown, ft is a 
singular fact, but nevertheless true, that of all the counties of the State, many of them abounding in the 
vei-y finest soil, Gadsden is the only one that has succeeded in making the Cuba Tobacco a staple market 
crop. Prior to 1860 it rivaled in net returns the great staple — Cotton. Whether this success is attribu- 
table to any peculiarity in the elements of the soil I am not able to determine, but this fact is worthy of 
note, that, except immediately on the banks of the Apalachicola River, which forms the western bound- 
ary of the county, there is an entire absence of the rotten limestone which so largely pervades the other 
sections of the State. In 1S72 a citizen of this county cleared one acre of good pine land, and after 
breaking it up, and applying $S worth of commercial fertilizer in the hills, planted it in Cuba Tobacco. 
The crop was sent to New York, and the net returns of sale amounted to $320.90. In 1873 he added an- 
other acre, making two aces, and planted it again in Tobacco. The crop of two acres was sold in New 
York, and netted $760. The two acres in Tobacco did not interfere with the making of an abundant sup- 
ply of provisions, and the usual amount of cotton for market." 



18 

pondence with Prof. Kerr, State Geologist of North Carolina, for a similar 
map in connection with that State, which we expect to have the pleasure of 
presenting in a future publication.* 

Staunton, Va., March 15, 1877. 

Mr. JOHN Ott, Secretary, &'c. : 

My Dear 5/> /^Knowing that the famous "seed-leaf" (Cigar) tobacco of the 
Connecticut valley is grown on the soils overlying the Triassic, or New Red Sandstone, 
rocks, as, also, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, it has often occurred to me that a simi- 
lar valuable "leaf" might be reared upon the same formation in Virginia, where these 
rocks cover an area of about 1,600 square miles. I am accordingly much gratified to hear 
that you have taken the subject of "seed-leaf" tobacco in hand, and I feel great pleasure 
in complying with your request for a map and a brief description of this, and the associated 
formation in Virginia, to accompany your paper. 

The formations shown on the map herewith (as located by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers) are : 
1. T/ie Loiver yurassic, passing dotvn into the Triassic, colored in a dark brown; and, 2. 
The Upper Jurassic, passing iiito the base of the Cretaceous, colored in a light brown. 
These rocks, as found in Virginia, are distributed in some four lines of broken strips, ex- 
tending nearly across the State from north east to south-west, and they do not conform in 
position to the rocks that are beneath them. 

I. — The Lower Jurassic Rocks. 

These are found in eight or more distinct basins. Theyfri-/ rests on the Potomac, and 
extends through Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier and Culpeper to the Rapidan. 
Its area is about r,ooo square miles. The second is an oval area, in Madison and Orange, 
west of Orange Court house, — part of the fine country watered by Blue run. The third is 
north west of the James, in Allsemarle and Nelson, intersected by Rockfish river, and em- 
bracing the slope of the Green mountain and Buffalo ridge. The fourth begins in Appomat- 
tox and runs through Campbell and Pittsylvania counties, crossing a corner of Halifax to the 
North Carolina line, with a break in it a few miles north of that line. Theffth (small) is 
found near the middle of Prince Edward. The sixth begins in the south-east corner of 
Buckingham and extends into Cumberland and Prince Edward, including the fine planting 
lands on the Appomattox in the vicinity of Farmville and along the western side of Willis's 
river. The seventh is the region familiarly known as the Richmond coal field, and extends 
through Henrico and Chesterfield, from the sources of the Chickahominy to the Apjiomat- 
tox. The eighth is a detached fragment, in Hanover county, intersected by the South 
Anna, near Taylortovvn. The entire area of these eight basins is not far from 1,600 
square miles. 

The following analysis of these rocks, as found in New Jersey, will give some idea of 
their constituent elements : 

Silicic acid and quartz 73.00 

\ Peroxide of iron 10.00 

Alumina 3.20 

Lime 4.93 

Magnesia 0.90 

Potash 0.73 

Soda 0.97 

Sulphuric acid a trace. 

Water 1.00 



*We esteem Virginia and North Carolina highly favored in this: Each has a man not only thoroughly 
acquainted with the resources of his State, but imbued with a spirit and energy becoming men who ap- 
preciate the tremendous importance that attaches to such knowledge, when the best interests of the Com- 
monwealths, possessing these resources, are considered. We know how rare this knowledge is, and cannot 
too much value the men who have devoted their lives to its acquisition. North Carolina has Prof. Kerr, 
and Virginia Maj. Hotchkiss. 



19 

II. — The Upper Jurassic Rocks. 

They are found in some four detached fragments on the James, Appomattox, Blackwater 
and Nottoway, south of Richmond, and their characteristic features are well shown at 
Drewry's bluff. North of Richmond they occupy a long and irregular belt of country, ex- 
tending from near Richmond, through Henrico, Hanover, Caroline, Spotsylvania, Stafford, 
Prince William, Fairfax and Alexandria to the vicinity of Washington city. The railway 
from Richmond to Washington runs in or near this belt all the way between these cities. 
There are many noted estates in this belt, including the historic ones of Gunston Hall, Mt. 
Vernon and Arlington. Some detached masses of these rocks are found scattered over 
portions of Tide-water to the east of where the formations are in place. It is generally 
believed that the areas now occupied by these rocks were once depressions or foldings in 
the granitic (Archaean or Primary) rocks, that were inlets of the sea, estuaries of rivers, lakes 
or marshes, often of great depth, that were gradually filled up by the washings from the hills 
of the surrounding country. The washings that filled these depressions in Virginia, and 
consolidated into the Jurassic and Triassic rocks, as in New England, were from the older 
crystalline rocks : the granite, gneiss, mica and talcose schists, and even from the limestones 
of the valley; hence, it is not surprising that the lands of this formation are unusually fer- 
tile. An abundant vegetation, including extensive forests, covered the hills around these 
lakes and rivers, in which grew not only gigantic ferns and other coal plants, but also trees 
of the pine family, which at times were swept into these depressions and formed beds of 
coal, as in the Richmond, Farmville and Dan River basins. 

Not only are the remains of vegetation found abundantly in these rocks, but on the sur- 
face of some of the layers of red sandstone, shale, conglomerate, impure limestone, brown 
building stone or freestone, that make up the formation, are seen, when exposed, the ripple 
marks of the waves, the indentations of the rain drops, the mud cracks, and the footprints 
of birds, insects and reptiles, all made while the mud flats were hardening into dry land. 
In these rocks in England are found the two great salt beds of Cheshire, that have a thick- 
ness of 90 to 100 feet. In the United States are found in these formations beds of bitu- 
minous coal (sometimes baked into coke by the trap rocks that came up red hot through 
cracks that from time to time were made in and near these rocks), copper, barytes, and 
valuable iron ores. The soil of these rocks is red from the oxidation of the grains of 
iron ore distributed through the rocks. 

These important formations, thus briefly explained, it is hoped, may yet be carefully 
studied by our people, and reported on, that we may better know their value. 

Yours, truly, 
(Signed) JED. HOTCHKISS. 7. E 

We have, in this matter, taken the counsel of Mr. William H. White, of 
Massachusetts, than whom no grower of this character of Tobacco in the 
United States has been more successful. He has been good enough to fur- 
nish us with the two essays following, one by Mr. Hull, of Connecticut, and 
the other by Mr. Libhart, of Pennsylvania. Of course, this is not intended to 
affect at all our arrangements for the coming season ; and even next season we 
beg that those who propose to make the trial on their soils will only operate in 
a very small way, so as to ascertain as exactly as possible what promise they 
have of success when pitched on a larger scale. That is, as the "fancy bright" 
came in by degrees to the pl9,ce it now holds, we cannot expect this new 
type to fare better; besides, it requires time to bring a new product into the 
grooves of regular trade ; but the matter is altogether too important to be 
ignored by us. 

The instructions here submitted being for higher latitudes than ours, the 
judgment of the planter will, of course, be exercised in modifying them to 
suit his surroundings. Mr. White informs us that the average of frosts^ 



20 

injurious in his region, is the middle of May and say the 10th of Septem- 
ber, which, as compared with ours, indicates, for the intermediate time, 
quite a short season. 

On the Cultivation and Curing of Seed Leaf (Cigar) Tobacco. 
I. — By Perry N. Hull, Litchfield county, Connecticut. 

The cultivator of Tobacco needs, 1st. A rich, warm, finely pulverized soil ; 2d. Strong 
early plants. The failure to obtain either of these at the outset, will very seriously endan- 
ger the success of the crop. Here in Connecticut, it usually requires the whole season 
for the crop to arrive at the proper state of maturity, without which its value is greatly 
diminished. Even though harvested no more than one week before maturity, the danger 
while curing is greatly increased, and if, through very favorable weather, the Tobacco es- 
capes total ruin by pole-burn, its value will still be diminished one-fourth by bad colors, etc. 

Seed- Beds. — Select a light garden soil, in a location sheltered from north winds, but ex- 
posed to the sun from morning until evening, and prepare in October. The best manure 
for plant-beds is that taken from the hog-pen, kept in a heap through the summer, and occa- 
sionally cut over with a shovel, that it may be thoroughly rotted. Such manure contains 
fewer weed-seeds than almost any other, and its fertilizing qualities cannot be surpassed. 
This should be generously applied — say scatter the ground over one, or one and one- half 
inches deep, and thoroughly spade in, in the month indicated. The seed should be selected 
from an early, strong growing plant, which should, after ripening, be cut up and hung in a 
dry place, top downwards ; the seed, if out of the reach of mice, keeping in this way much 
better and safer than if picked and shelled. 

Varieties. — There are almost as many varieties of seed-leaf Tobacco as there are of 
Indian corn — the difference not always noticed by the inexperienced, but very readily by 
the experienced cultivator. In my opinion, the variety best adapted to our purpose, is that 
known in this State as the Bull Tongue. The leaf is neither too long nor too short, the 
length and width being in such good proportion that manufacturers consider there is less 
waste than there is to a very narrow leaf, or a very broad, short leaf. It yields well, and 
ripens at least one week earlier than many of the broader varieties. Almost any of the 
seed-leaf varieties will do well ; but never patronize any of the humbugs sent from the 
Patent-Office, under the name of Graham Tobacco, Maryland Broad-Leaf, etc. They are 
a southern Tobacco, and when grown upon that soil, make chewing Tobacco; but here it 
is good for nothing for that purpose, and is too coarse for cigar-wrappers. 

Many are too anxious in the spring to get their seed into the ground, to be successful in 
getting good plants; as often, after waiting two or three weeks for the plants to come up, 
they have to make a second sowing, thereby putting them back a week or more. Wait un- 
til the ground is dry, and warm enough for the seed to grow, instead of rotting. When 
this change has taken place in the soil, sprout the seed, instead of sowing dry, thus gaining 
at least ten days' time, and precluding the possibility of l^eing disappointed in the first sow- 
ing. From the first to the middle of April (being governed by the forwardness of warm 
weather), procure some rotten wood, so rotten that it may be finely pulverized with the 
hand ; mix this with the seed, in about the proportion of ten parts of wood or dirt to one of 
seed. Mix them thoroughly, and moisten with water slightly warmed, and repeat it as of- 
ten as it dries up, and keep it in a warm room. The seed will usually get in the proper 
condition for sowing in from four to six days, depending upon the temperature at which it 



21 

is kept. The seed is sprouted sufficiently, whenever, upon disturbing the dirt, it looks sil- 
very inside.* 

The beds should be well worked over with the fork or spade and rake. If the soil is in- 
clined to be moist, raise the beds well; if dry, raise them less. They should be only about 
three feet wide, to facilitate weeding. After making the top of the beds perfectly smooth 
and fine, sow the seed, first mixing enough ground plaster to thoroughly dry the seed and 
prevent them from falling in bunches. The quantity of seed sown should be about one- 
half a table-spoonful to thirty-six or forty square feet of ground. Do not rake in the seed, 
but procure a smooth board, lay it on the bed, and with the feet stamp the beds quite hard. 
The ground should never be allowed to freeze after sowing the seed ; to prevent this, and 
also for another purpose, which will soon be apparent, construct a straw mat. They are 
made by laying a scantling (six feet long, one and a half inches wide, three fourths of an 
inch thick) upon the barn floor ; place a layer of good straight rye straw upon it, so that 
the scantling will come about in the middle of the straw, then another layer with the tips 
the other way, that it may be of uniform thickness in all its parts (about one and a half 
inches thick). Place a similar scantling exactly over it, and with sixpenny nails, nail them 
tight ; with an axe trim both edges straight, and to a width of three feet, and the mat is 
made. With these the beds should be covered every night, cold or warm ; in the day-time 
they should be set up at the north side of the bed, at an angle of about sixty-five degrees, 
by driving crotches just inside of the bed, for the ends of the scantling to rest in, the lower 
edge of the mat resting on the ground, outside the bed. 

The plants, as soon as they are out of the ground, which will be in a few days, require 
strict attention. The beds should be made high enough, so that in fair weather a little wa- 
ter can be applied every night. After the fourth leaf appears, manure-water should be used. 
Place an old barrel near the beds, and throw into it one-half bushel of hen-manure, and 
fill with water; after it is well soaked, use one-half pailful of it, and fill up with clear 
water with the chill taken off. As the plant gets larger, the strength of the decoction can 
be increased, being careful that it is not so strong as to turn the plants yellow. As soon as 
the plants are large enough to be readily taken hold of by the thumb and point of a 
knife, they should be thinned to about one hundred and forty-four per square foot, and kept 
free from weeds. This plan is decidedly preferable to raising under glass. It is less ex- 
pensive, the plants are more hardy to plant out in the field, are got fully as early, and a lit- 
tle carelessness in a hot day will not ruin the whole. It has been my method for the past 
eight years, and during that time I have never failed to have good, strong plants ready for 
the field from the fifth to the tenth of June. 

Preparations of the soil. — Tobacco requires a light, rich soil, in a locality not ex- 
posed to early frosts. If the soil is not naturally rich enough, it must be made so by a gen- 
erous application of manure; and he who is unwilling to " feed his barn yard," and spend 
both money and time to increase the manure -heap, had better not attempt the cultivation of 
Tobacco — at least not largely. It has been, and still is the practice of many farmers in the 
Connecticut valley, and to some extent here in the Housatonic valley, to plant one and the 
same piece of land with Tobacco year after year for an indefinite period, because, as they 
say : " Tobacco impoverishes the soil, and they confine it to a single piece, rather than have 
its injurious effects upon all parts of the farm." It seems as if almost any practical farmer 
•would discover the fallacy of such reasoning, for these same farmers carry all, or nearly all 



*NoTE BY THE COMPANY. — With ouf Softer climate, and longer season, sprouting the seed will probably not 
be necessary. Mr. Libhart (Essay II) is opposed to it, and he is a good deal north of us. The same short- 
ness of season in New England requires a very much heavier application of stimulating manures than 
would be needed with us. 



22 

their manure, upon this one piece, year after year, leaving the remaining part of the farni) 
to take care of itself as best it may, which, in my opinion, is the surest way to impoverish 
a farm which a farmer could take. Besides, it will take almost as much again manure per 
acre to raise a crop in this way, as it will where Tobacco is grown as one in a rotation of 
crops, and a new piece of land taken for it every year. This was the idea that I started with 
when I commenced growing Tobacco ten years ago. I have cultivated from four to six acres 
yearly ever since, without ever more than once or twice planting the same piece of land two 
years in succession. This distributes the manure over a great portion of the farm, thus- 
keeping the whole in a good state of fertility. 

The turf should be turned over in September or first of October, only three or four inches 
deep, plowing the manure in with it, which should be well-rotted by being kept over the 
summer, under the sheds and barns, or, which is better yet, in a heap in the field, composted 
with swamp-muck. In the month of May, the field should be worked over with the plow 
and harrow, until thoroughly pulverized. If there have been from twenty to forty loads of 
manure applied to the acre, according to the natural condition of the soil, no further manur- 
ing will be necessary ; the hills can be made with a hoe, and the field be ready to receive- 
the plants. If some special fertilizer is to be used, my method is this : take a horse-plow 
and mark out the rows, three feet four inches apart, making a shallow furrow, say two inches 
deep ; scatter the manure, if guano, two hundred pounds to the acre — if superphosphate of 
lime, three hundred and fifty pounds per acre — evenly the whole length of the furrows ; then 
make the hills with a hoe, from two feet to two feet six inches apart, raising them somewhat 
above the level of the ground, at the same time covering the intervening part of the furrow. 
The object of thus scattering the fertilizer instead of dropping it all immediately in the hill, 
is this, that the roots, reaching it gradually, its effects will be felt throughout the whole sea- 
son ; whereas, if it is all dropped in the hill, its power would soon be spent. I am aware 
that some practice and recommend ridging ground before planting out, but I consider the 
above practice better for this reason : where the ground is thrown into ridges beforehand, a 
plow can not be used in the after-cultivation, or it will leave the ridges too high; conse- 
quently the cultivation must all be done with the hoe, which, I believe, is the practice of 
those who ridge. On the other hand, a light plowing at each hoeing greatly reduces the 
labor, and also raises the ridges to a sufficient height. All this preparation should be ac- 
complished just before the plants attain sufficient size, that there may be no hindrance, and 
all hands may be engageff in 

Planting Out. — When wet, lowery weather comes, from the first to the middle of June, 
take the plants carefully from the beds with a garden trowel, digging deep enough to se- 
cure all the roots, and transfer them carefully to the field. In planting them, see that every 
man puts the roots well into the ground, and leaves a little disk around each plant, to hold 
a half-pint of water, in case dry, hot weather follows. In many seasons we do not get the 
wet weather, but it is not best to delay later than the I2th or 15th of June. One wagon or 
cart-load of burdock leaves, or brakes will nearly cover the plants upon an acre, and I 
have often thought that plants put out in dry, hot weather, watered and lightly covered from 
the sun for a few days, started to grow sooner and better than those set out in wet weather, 
and not covered. When the field is once planted, it needs but little care for a while, unless 
the black corn-worm attacks it ; in that case — and they are too plenty — it is best to catch 
them off, and often reset, or fill out the field, that the plants may start as near alike, and the 
field be as even as possible. It should be hoed as often as necessary, until all weeds are 
thoroughly subdued. 

Worms. — The tobacco-worm usually makes its appearance about the first of August. Our 
Tobacco being raised for wrappers to cigars, the necessity for keeping the leaves as sound 
as possible, is at once seen ; for no matter of how fine a texture a leaf may be, if badly 



23 

eaten by the worms, it must go into the lower grades, and sell for a small price. After the 
worms make their appearance, the Tobacco should be gone through, as often as twice a week 
and the worms destroyed, large and small. 

Topping. — The top or seed bud, will generally make its appearance from the first to the 
tenth of August ; as soon as developed enough t?o got hold of conveniently, it must be 
pinched off. The exact point for topping, must be determined to a great extent by the cul- 
tivator. Some fields of Tobacco will mature a plant of eighteen leaves, while others will 
not more than twelve ; depending upon how forward the crop is, and the strength of the 
ground. The above numbers are the two extremes, from fourteen to sixteen leaves are 
usually left to the stalk when topped from first to the fourth of August, from the fifth to 
the tenth, leave from twelve to fourteen. 

Suckers. — After the top is taken off, the suckers will start, one from the base of each 
leaf, those at the top making their appearance first,, then downwards in succession. These 
must be taken off as fast as they get large enough to be got hold of, otherwise a great 
amount of growth is lost, and consequently the maturity of the plant retarded. As the 
plant approaches maturity, great care should be exercised in going through and handling 
as the leaves are daily growing brittle, and are liable to be broken off and torn by careless 
hands. Turn back to their natural position all leaves turned up by the wind, or the 
sun shining upon the under side of the leaf, will soon burn it, and very seriously in- 
jure the color. 

Harvesting the Crop. — This is an important season, and generally commences about 
the first of September. Before cutting any, see that the drying sheds are fully prepared 
■with poles and scaffolds; the twine examined for rotten places, etc. The best convenience 
for transporting it from the field to the shed, is the simplest. If a cart is to be used, remove 
the body, and with two poles construct one without sides, only bottom and ends. If 
horses are to be used, use trucks, the wheels of which will be entirely out of the way. With 
either of these, the plants can be loaded crosswise with the butts out, and tips lapping in 
the middle ; being careful in loading to lay a tier across one side, then the other, regularly, 
that it may be taken off without any pulling or tearing of the leaves. In this way four or 
five hundred plants may be carried at a load, 

A very little experience will teach one to determine the ]5roper time for cutting. When 
about ripe, the color changes from a dark green to a spotted appearance ; the under side 
of the leaf, when pinched between the thumb and finger, will crack; the suckers commence 
to put out, below the bottom leaves, and the plant presents an entirely different appearance 
from what it previously did. There is decidedly less danger of Tobacco getting too ripe 
than there is of it being cut too soon ; many a crop being seriously injured by being har- 
vested before perfectly mature. The plant should never be cut while the dew is on the 
leaves ; but wait until it is off, say ten o'clock, and what Tobacco is cut from that time until 
two o'clock, if the day is hot, will need close attention. In short, the whole operation, 
from cutting in the field, to the hanging upon the poles in the barn, needs care, as a littlf 
carelessness or inattention will damage many dollars worth. No hand should be al- 
lowed to handle it, who is unwilling to use care, and perform every operation just as 
■directed, or else by breaking of leaves, or sticking fingers though them, etc., he may do 
more damage than his wages amount to. The plant to be cut should be taken by the left 
hand, not carelessly by the leaves, but carefully by the stalk, and as carefully leaned over 
to give a chance to use the ax, which should have a handle about one foot long. Cut the 
plant with one blow, laying it carefully down with the top to the sun; if it is laid other- 
wise, the leaf will burn before the main stalk of the leaf will wilt sufficiently to admit of 
handling. Even in that position, it may burn unless attended to, but not as soon. After 
lying until pretty well wilted, and before burning, turn it over and wilt the other side. — 



24 

When so wilted that the main stem has lost most of its brittleness, load as explained above ; 
taking hold of the butt of the stalk, lay them carefully upon the arm and again as care- 
fully upon the load. If the day be very hot, use expedition in getting to the shed, else if 
the distance be great, the load may heat, which will spoil the leaves for anything but fillers. 

When carried into the shed, if quite warm, they should be left only one plant deep upon 
the floor and scaffolds. If the day be cool, and they are to be hung up soon, they may lie 
much thicker. They should never be hung upon a pole less than five inches in width. If 
sawed pieces are used, saw them just that ; if poles are used, see that they are about that ; 
for if anything of less width is used, the plants will hang so close, that the chances of /o/^- 
burn are greatly increased. They are fastened to the pole by a half hitch. 

It requires two hands to hang them, one to hand them, another to tie them. The poles 
should be about eighteen inches apart, and the number hung upon a twelve foot pole will 
depend upon the size, from twenty-four to thirty, so regulating them, that when thoroughly 
wilted, they will scarcely touch each other. If hung thicker than this, a little unfavorable 
weather will cause more or less pole-burn, sweat and mould. After the tobacco is hung, 
the building should be so thoroughly ventilated that there will be a circulation of air 
through every part. The ventilators should be kept open during all fair weather, until well 
cured down. During storms, shut the doors and exclude as much wet as possible ; being 
cautious to give it a thorough ventilation again, as soon as the rain ceases. When it is cured 
enough to be husky in dry weather, exclude all hard winds, that will crack and damage 
the leaves. When the leaves are so much cured, that there is nothing about them green 
but the stem, a moderate quantity of wet weather will not injure it, but rather improve the 
color ; as the sap of the stalk works through the stems into the leaves, during moist weather, 
until the stalk has been well frozen ; after this takes place, the Tobacco should be picked. 

Picking. — Tobacco, as a general thing should not be picked until about December ; at 
least not until \.\\e fat stems (main stems of the leaves, which are not thoroughly cured at 
the butt end) have mostly or all disappeared, which they will have done by that time, if the 
crop reached maturity l^efore harvesting. The operations of picking and assorting are 
by many, who make only two classes or qualities of the tobacco, carried on at the same 
time. By far the preferable way is, especially if there is a very large crop to pick, to take 
off the leaves during damp or wet weather, tie them into bundles of fifteen or twenty 
pounds, with twine, and pack it away into cellars, or wherever it can be kept without dry- 
ing up. It can then be assorted in any kind of weather, thus gaining considerable time, 
as two will pick and tie up in this way as much during one wet spell as six hands would, 
assorting and hanking up, at the same time. Another reason why the last practice is prefer- 
able, is, that, by the former, the assorting can be but indifferently done ; whereas, by the 
last, it can be done as carefully as desired. Tobacco should not be allowed to get too wet 
before picking ; in fact, should not be allowed to get wei at all, so as to feel wet, only just 
damp enough to make the leaves pliable, so as to handle and pack without breaking or 
feeling husky. If allowed to get wet, before picking, it is next to impossible to get it dried 
to the proper state again uniformly, so but that some of the leaves will still be too wet, while 
others will be dry enough to crack and break. So if the rains are long enough to get 
it too wet, which they often are, by all means let it remain upon the poles until the 
next wet spell. 

Assorting. — Tobacco, to sell well, should be assorted into t/n-ee classes or grades, — 
Wrappers, Seconds, and Fillers. The wrappers, will include the soundest, best colored 
leaves, the color (a dark cinnamon) should be as uniform as possible ; this quality should 
include nothing but what is fit for wrappers. The Seconds, which are used as binders for 
cigars, etc., will include the small top leaves, of which, if the Tobacco was topped too 
high, there will be one or two to each plant — the bad colors, and those leaves somewhat 



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'aq p^noqs Xaqi sb apiA\ jou Suo^ sb j[Bq jou 'dn pafjno puB pajpAuqs puB 'sqoads qsiuaajo 
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Xaqi SB 'saABai A\au aqj qaiqM ui ^/jibj-xoj „ pajiBO XiJB§inA asBasip b qjiM pa>i3BjiB sauioa 
-aq Jt suoijBnjis qans ui sb 'ooDBqox -loj op jou |iiA\ juB|d aqj jo sjooj aqj jnoqB §uo{ jajB.w 
pjoq ijiM jBqj pos Xuy "pa^iJOM puB paMOid X[q§noJoqj puB ajnuBUi pjBX ujBq qj!A\ ajqis 
-sod SB qaiJ sb apBui 'uiboj XpuBS daap b si oooBqox XABaq SuimojS oj pajins jsaq [tos aqx 
•suiBj XABaq Xq jno paqsBAV Supq sjUB^d aqj jo XjqiqBq aqi jo juijoddb uo ajqBuoijDalqo 
Supq saijiAqaap daajs jo sapis ]pq iSuq^oj XjjuaS jo pAaj jaqjp aq Xbui qDiqA\ 'uoijBnjis 
pajBAap XpjBjapoui b si jsajns puB jsajBs aqx "suibj XABaq Xq uoijBpunui jo 'jsojj 'Mappiu 
Xq dojo apqAv siq Suisoj jo >[sij jBaj§ b sunj jojBAiqnD aqj uaqj 'auo jaM b aq oj aAOjd ppioqs jt. 
'Xjejjuod aqj uo 'ji puB 1 jdbjj pajBAap ajoiu b oj ajqBjajajd si punojS jo aaaid moj jaqjo jo 
AvopBam B 'Xjp aci ji ji ! uosBas aqj uodn spuadap qaniu sb 'Xobjuddb qjiM uasoqo aq sXba\ib 
lou UBD uoiicnjis jsaq aqj^ qios aqj jo XjqBnb puB uoijbujis aqj si uoijBjapisuoa juBjjoduii 
XjaA puB XjBuiud B 'oDDBqojL JO dojD B asiBj oj papuajui si ji jj — NOixvnxis qkv s^IOS 



9S 



8 

'sj^ny puB spuooas put; 'sqjjy-aaiqj 'siaddrjAV : aq p^noqs doiD pooS v ui sap^jS juaaajjip aqi 
JO uoipodojd aqj^ 'sjuao anoj oj aajq; 'sjsny fsjuaa iqSia jo u3Aas 'spuooas tpuiiodjad 
sjusa uaajiuoj 'sjaddra^Y ^saoud Sui.woi[oj aqj jnoqB 2uuq Xji^nsn saprjS juajajjip aqx 

•;uaD jad uaj uuq} ssaj 
3[uuqs Xbui }i '<{ap Ax3\ ji pu\; ''juao aad uaajjiq^ lo aApAvj sb qSiq sb >iuuqs \\l^^ ji 'aa^jaM 
ji !pa>(DBd uaqM ajc^s )q§u aqj jsnf ui 'dojD m jo agE>iuuqs aq^ ioj paAvojiB si "juaa jad ua; 
inoqy "luiod SuijTJutuqno sji paqa^aj SBq ;T3aA\s aqj amp aqj Xq paqsiiduiODDB si aSB>[uuqs 
aqj JO ji^q ucq; ajom }T3qi 'saSB;s snoiJBA aqj ju §uiq§iaM Xq paui-ejiaasB uaaq SBq }i puB 
'saDuauiiuoD }Baq aq; sb uoos sb jiioqB asBaJoap o} aauaiuuioD \\im. }q§iaAv aqx 'siqj uaAa op 
OJ uBqj 'Sui>tDBd a.iojaq paanaas si uopipuoa jadojd aqi ^Bqj aas o) jajBS jbj si ;i puB '. ii ioj 
3uop aq UBD jBqi |[b ;noqB si siqj puB 'pa^BjauaS ajB qaiqAV sasBS puB lUBajs aqi oj juaA a[} 
■ }![ B aAiS oj 'pajiBjs aq ubd spq aqi 'jam ooj aq oj umousj si asBO b ji 'sauipaiuog 'jaSuBp 
ou ST ajaq) 'pa>pBd uaqAV. diuBp ooj ^ou ji }nq 'Sujnoj sbav ;i ?iuiqj o} aans aq pinoA^ 'pou 
-ad siqj }B 11 SuiuiiuBxa uodn 'doaa aq; oj pauio^snoDBun auQ 'Jjo jood o} saouauiuioa puB 
}uiod Sui)BiiiuqnD sji saqoBai ji uaqAV 's:5|aaAV aaaqj jnoqB joj sasBaaaui qoiqAv 'aouBJBaddB 
o; ;poi puB 'uuBA\ a\oj§ oj saouauiujoD uaqj ji ; Xbj^ jo \i-ed aaoj aqi X[iBnsn 'saiuoo aaqjBaAV 
uiiBA\ paijps SB uoos SB jiioqB jBaddB SuijBaMs ja siuojdiuXs jsay aqj^ 'uosBas SuqBaMs 
aqi ajc*aq 'saajBap piiB sjojB^naads jo asoqj ojui 'siaMOjS jo spuBq aqi uiojj sassBd X[iBnsn 
dojD aqj, •aDB[d jsaq aqi si 'aooy aqj uo puBjs ubd sasBO aqj ajaqAV 'Suipjinqjno jaqjo jo 
ii.iBq jqSijpooSB i jB^pa diuBp b ui }da>{ aq iaAau p[noqs oaoBqoj aqi pa>iDBd Supq Jayy 

"XbuioSC '(aq pinoqs jaAau }i qoiqAv) pAv 
ajinb jipuB :pjBqoo}jBaMS jou XiqBqoid jjiav spunod ooi' 'Xap XjaA si oaaBqoj aqj ji qSnoip 
'. Sui->iDBd joj jqSpM jadojd aqj si 'og£ oj 'spunod 09C uiojj 'juaiuaAuoo jsoui aqj si jaAa 
-qaiqM 'Suissajd aqj op oj pasn aq ubd .v^ajos jo jaAaj y "uoijisod jBqj ui asBO aqj ui ji Xb{ 
'jsiAvj jq§!is B >[UBq aqj SuiaiS puB 'jaqjo aqj qjiM dij aqj 'puBq auo qjiAv jjnq aqj jo pfoq 
Sui^Bj tpua qoBa spjBMoj sjjnq aqj qjiAv 'ui paijDBd si oaaBqoj aqx "sXBAi qjoq luojj jpM 
uiaqj ojSuqiBU 'ajBntfs qoui jjBq b puB auo ui pajiBU saoaid jauioa aqpinoqs ajaqj iSuojjs 
puB jqSij apBui aq p[noqs Xaqj i juauiajnsBaui apisjno 'qSiq puB apiAV saqoui xis jaaj OMJ 
Xq Suoi saqoui jqSp jaaj aajqj 'jaqmni auid dBaqa jo apBiu aiB sasBO aqx — 'OMlMDVfj 

•jjo jooa OJ auiij uiaqj SuiaiS puB s^juBq aqj jno 2ui>(Bqs 'ji 2ui>(DBdaj puB 'ajid aqj 3ui 
-uado Xq 'apd b qans ui jBaq jo suiojduiXs jsjy aqj 'ajojajaqj 'jjoaq^ 'spjBMjajjB jBaMs 
ladojd B juaAajd oj juapyjiis aq |jia\ 'juauiaauamuioa aqj jb pajdaojajui jou ji 'qaiqAV jnq 
Sui:>{jOM .IOJ jy oaoBqoj aqj japuaj oj juapyjns aq jou jpAv qaiqM 'ajid v qans ui aoBfd a>(Bj 
jt/tt'pjiui aq jaqjBaMaqj ji 'uajjo qaiq.vv 'jBaMs ajnjBuiajd b juaAajd oj paqojBAV Xpsop uaqj 
{)UB 'qSiq jaaj aajqj jo jjBq b puB oa\j jnoqB X[uo apBui aq pjnoqs ajid b qancj "auiij jBqj jb 
3uissajd JO {Bap jbbjS b aABS \\im. qaiqAV 'uA\op pajqSpAV jpAV aq pinoqs 'sasBD aqj ojui 3ui 
-JlDBdajojaq sXBp Avaj b puB 'dn SuiXjp uiojj ji daa^t oj 'spjBoq qjiAv jaAO pajaAoo aq pinoqs 
ji 'paqsiuy si ajid aqj Jajjv '5! uodn aau^t aqj Suijjnd XpjBipamuii 'uoijisod jrqj ui ajid 
aqj uodn ji SupBjd puB 'jaqjo aqj qjiAV jaqjaSoj dij aqj jb saABaj aqj SuiMBjp 'puBq auo 
qjiAv ^uBq B JO jjnq aqj jo pjoq a>(Bj 'saaujj aqj uodn a[id aqj uodn jaf) pua aqj spjBM 
-OJ sjjnq aqj Suiujnj spua aqj jb 'asjnoo jaqjo XjaAa jb 'aippiui aqj ui SuiddB[.iajui sdijpuB 
'jno sjjnq aqj qjiA\ apBui si a[id aqx "sasBD aqj ui Sui^ioBd ajojaq pajna X[qSnojoqj 
aq Xbui sjjnq aqj jBqj 'aoBid Xjp b ui 'a^iqAVB dn papjoa aq pjnoqs ji Suijjossb Jajjv 

■ji ajnoas oj >[UBq aqj qSnojqj pua aqj 3ui 
• AvBjp 'jBai aiqBi[d b qjiAvjjnq aqj jb SuqjuiM 'sjaSuy puBquinqj aqj Xq passBdiuoaua aq ubo 
jBqM jnoqB jo 'qoBa punod b jo pjiqj auo jnoqB jo S5{UBq ojui dn auop aq pfnoqs oaoBqoj 
aqX "oja 'saABaj paSSBj 'saABaj uiojjoq 'dojo aqj jo aauBjBq aqj apnpui jjiav 'sjaijij Jo 
*ssBp pjiqj aqj^ "paSoBjaq oj sb os qaniu os jou jnq 'SuqpuBq pBq puB suijom Xq pa^BtUBp 



27 

iiave good plants enough to fill the patch at one planting, so that the tobacco may be of a 
imiform size and ripeness when cut off. 

Varieties. — The best variety for cultivation in a high northern latitude is the Connec- 
ticut seed-leaf, as it ripens two weeks earlier than most any other variety, cures and colors 
better, and commands the highest price in the market. The Pennsylvania seed-leaf out- 
strips the Connecticut in size and weight, but owing to its requiring a longer time to mature 
in, is not so well adapted to climates north of 41° or 42°. 

Preparation of the Soil. — The manure should be spread and plowed down several 
weeks before it is intended to plant. There is scarcely any limit as to the quantity of 
manure that may be put to the acre, it seeming that the richer the ground is, the larger will 
t)e the tobacco As an instance verifying this fact, a gentleman in this place raised the past 
season on a half- acre of land fourteen hundred lbs. of tobacco, of the aggregate value of 
^230. There was ^25 worth of barn yard manure put upon it at about the rate of fifty 
■cents per one horse load ; the average crop in the vicinity was only about twelve hundred 
lbs. to the acre. After the land is plowed, and a few days before it is intended to plant, 
•the soil should be well worked with a harrow or large cultivator until it is free from lumps 
•or clods, when it is ready for ridging; this is performed with a common plow. Beginning 
on one side of the field, take a light furrow, so as to throw up a ridge about five or six 
inches higher than the surrounding surface of the field. When arrived at the end, return 
another furrow alongside, so that the earth thrown up by the plow unites with that of the 
•former furrov/, leaving a ridge apparently about ten inches in height, but really only five or 
six above the general level. So proceed, making the apex of the ridges three-anda half 
feet apart, until the whole is finished. Measure off the distance of thirty- six inches for the 
■plant on the top of the ridge, with an instrument constructed as follows: Take two strips of 
board, two-and-a-half feet long and an inch square, make one end of each pointed, then 
spread them in the form of a pair of compasses, until the points are the desired distance 
apart, making the other ends lap each other, fasten them, and put a brace across about the 
middle to keep them stiff; with this instrument one person can go before, and planting one 
point at a time on the apex of the ridge, measure off rapidly and correctly the place for 
■each plant. Now take a hoe, and at each indentation made by the compasses, cut ofi 
:about two or three inches in depth of the top of the ridge, and tap it lightly with the back 
•of the hoe; this forms a platform or "bench" for the reception of the plant. 

Transplanting. — When the ridge has been thus prepared, one person goes ahead with 
a basket of plants and drops one on each "bench," another person following and planting 
as rapidly as possible, as it is injurious to the plant to leave its roots long exposed to the 
air. In inserting the plant, a hole may be made with a pointed stick, but the most expedi- 
tious, as well as the best way, is with the hands. The roots of the plant are carefully in- 
serted, and the earth pressed moderately tight upon them ; care must be taken not to press 
the delicate heart leaves, for upon their preservation depends the future vigor of the plant. 
The best time for planting is during a warm, drizzling rain ; but if no such occasion pre- 
sents itself, when everything is ready, then immediately before or after a shower will do 
nearly as well. If it is necessary to plant without any rain, it should be done in the even- 
ing, and each plant watered slightly. Unless absolutely necessary, never plant when the 
ground is in the consistence of mud, as the roots are doubled up and stuck together, and 
there is considerable time lost in starting the plant, if, indeed, it ever becomes vigorous. 
In taking the plants from the bed, if the earth is not previously well moistened by rain, 
■water the ground sufficiently, so that the plants will come up with some earth attached to 
the roots; they may be pulled by taking hold and gently doubling up the several large 
leaves of the plant at once ; they are very nicely raised with a common table fork. After 



28 

the whole area has been planted, it should be gone over every few days, and such plants as 
have been destroyed by the cut-worms, or otherwise, replaced by new ones ; if, however, 
a plant shows signs of remaining vitality, it should not be destroyed, but a new one placed 
alongside, as it often happens that a plant of the first setting, even though it be injured, will' 
eventually outstrip in growth one of a subsequent planting; either can be used to advan- 
tage in replacing any missing plants at the first hoeing, transplanting them with a large ball 
of earth to the roots. 

Cultivation. — When the weeds begin to appear pretty abundantly, and after the plants 
have made visible growth, a cultivator must be run between the rows, taking care that it- 
does not throw up the earth on the ridges and cover the plants ; a cultivator that can be 
regulated in width is the best. Hoe down the prominences of the ridges to a level with 
the plants, and eradicate all weeds that have come up between the leaves of the plants ; also- 
transplant from any double plants to such hills as have become vacant. The plants will 
now begin to grow vigorously, and require no attention beyond transplanting, to fill vacan- 
cies until a new crop of weeds appear, when the cultivator must be again run through, and 
the plants carefully hoed, fresh earth being drawn up after the weeds have been scraped 
away. Care must be taken not to hoe too deep close to the V>lant, as it destroys too many 
of the fibrous roots which have begun by this time to permeate the soil in every direction. 
When the weeds and grass have been thoroughly killed by the sun, the shovel plow or hook 
may be run between the rows, and following after, uncover such leaves as may have been 
buried by the earth thrown up by the implement, and hoeing the ridges into an even shape, 
rather flat upon the top, and rounding off gradually till they meet in the centre between the 
rows of tobacco, forming a ditch or furrow not too deep, but answering the purpose of a 
drain. This is all the cultivation it will require, but if the weeds come up between the rows 
thereafter, it will benefit the tobacco as well as the ground if they are scraped off with a hoe. 
Worms. — Now no attention is required until the tobacco-worms appear, which, in this- 
latitude. 40° north is about the latter end of July, when it must be gone over every few 
days, and the worms picked off and destroyed. The moth that produces these worms is 
nocturnal in its habits, and in the twilight may be seen hovering over the plants and deposit- 
ing its eggs on the under side of the leaves ; these are of a transparent green color, and very 
hard to detect on account of their similarity in color to the leaf. The worm begins to feed 
as soon as it emerges from the shell, and grows and increases in size so rapidly, that it soon 
becomes a formidable enemy to the farmer, and if not captured, will soon cut the plant to 
shreds; and not content with spoiling one plant alone, will visit and demolish several more 
Iiefore entering the earth and becoming a chrysalis. Continue to visit the field regularly 
every three or four days until the time for topping arrives. 

Topping. — There can be no stated time for this, as it depends upon the stage of growth 
in which the plant may be, and the latitude or climate. As a general thin^, it should be 
topped before the seed buds are visible, for when these appear, the plant has expended most 
of its vigor, and is no longer able to mature the upper leaves; and it must be done at least 
four weeks before the period of heavy frosts. The number of leaves that may be left to a 
stalk depends upon the (juality of the soil; if it be very strong, it will mature twenty or 
twenty four leaves, but in general from sixteen to twenty is amply sufficient to leave on a 
stalk in any situation. In topping, it is better to pinch out enough of the crown of the 
plant to leave the first two leaves not less than three or four inches long, as they grow more 
vigorously and mature more rapidly than the small and tender leaves found about the blos- 
som buds. In pinching out the heart of the plant, care must be taken not to break or in- 
jure the upper leaves that are left. When topping, the plants intended to produce seed for 
<he following year's crop must be spared ; they should always be chosen with regard to the 



29 

(heaviest, as well as the longest and broadest leafed plants, as weight and size of leaf is the 
■chief consideration of tobacco-growers. The seed-stalks should be left standing until the pods 
are fully formed and begin to turn brown, when the leaves may be stripped off and saved, 
and the stalk be spaded up and placed beyond the reach of frost until the seed is fully ripe. 

SucKERiNG. — Soon after the tobacco has been topped, the " suckers" begin to appear 
from the junction of every leaf with the stalk; they must be pinched off as soon as they 
are large enough to be caught by the thumb and finger, and every new one that appears 
■must be served likewise, for if left they consume much of the nourishment that would other- 
wise go to the leaves, besides much impairing the process of curing when the stalk is hung 
■up. 

Cutting and Housing. — When the top leaves have attained the size of the lower ones, 
and begin to be dotted with reddish spots, the tobacco is ripe, and ready to be cut off and 
(hung up to cure. There are several methods of hanging up tobacco, but the following two 
are the best and shortest : first, splitting and hanging it upon lath or poles, and leaving it to 
partially cure in the field ; secondly, nailing it to rails with lathing-nails, at once in the 
■shed. The former hiethod, for high northern latitudes, is by far the best, as it will cure in 
a much shorter time (and thiis prevent the destruction of the crop by freezing in the shed) 
by the drying of the pith of the stalk, which is the main reservoir of moisture. It is per- 
formed as follows : have a chisel about a foot long and three inches broad, the sharp end 
not beveled on one side, but coming to an edge by a gradual taper on both sides (a common 
tenon saw will do pretty well); place the edge of the chisel in the centre of the stalk upon 
ithe end where it has been topped, and push it down, guiding it in its course so as not to 
break or cut off any leaves, to within three or four inches of the ground ; the stalk may 
then be cut off with a hatchet, or with the chisel, if it be made pretty strong. The split- 
ting may be done in the morning when the leaves are too brittle to admit of the stalk being 
cut down, and then, when the sun has sufficiently wilted the leaves, the stalk may be cut 
and left to lie until it will bear handling without breaking the leaves. The lath being pre- 
viously prepared, four feet in length, and about an inch in thickness on one edge, and one- 
half inch on the other, and two inches broad (or poles cut in the forest will answer pretty 
well) ; then have trestles prepared high enough to allow the stalks to hang suspended with- 
out touching the ground, and set far enough apart in the field to admit of the lath reaching 
from one to another; now place the .stalks of tobacco upon the lath (previously laid across 
the trestles) by slipping them over and down until they will hang perpendicular, and six or 
eight inches apart, so they will merely touch, without crowding too much. It may be left 
hanging thus exposed to the weather until the leaves are so wilted that the stalks hang apart 
without touching, and the lower leaves begin to dry, when it is taken off the trestles, each 
lath entire, and laid upon a wagon and hauled to the 

Shed or Drying-House. — The shed must be constructed of timbers strong enough to 
Tesist storms, and should be boarded " up and down." About every three feet one board 
should be hinged, to readily open and shut. If it is intended to split and lath the tobacco, 
the inside of the shed must be divided by rails into widths to accommodate the lath, and 
likewise into tiers, one above the other, far enough apart to allow the stalks to hang from, 
well separate. The frame of rails and timbers inside the shed, destined to sustain the 
weight of the tiers of tobacco (which when green is exceedingly heavy), should be strongly 
constructed, so as to preclude the possibility of breaking down, for if this should happen 
to the upper tier, in all probability the whole would be tumbled to the ground. When ready 
to hang up, beginning at the top tier of the shed, slip on one lath after the other, until the 
whole is filled. The process of nailing it up to rails or strips of board, in some respects may 
be superior to the former method, as the tobacco is more expeditiously secured in the shed^ 



30 

and does not require so much handling, but in general there is more tobacco lost by being* 
frozen in the shed than will pay for the difference in time and labor. The stalk should be 
cut down after the dew is off in the morning and left to wilt. If the sun be very hot, the 
tobacco must be watched that it does not scorch, and if this be found to be the case, it should 
be thrown in heaps about a foot high, and three feet or less in width, and then hauled intc^ 
the shed; here it must not be piled more than a foot high, or it will soon heat and spoil. It 
should be nailed up as rapidly as possible ; one person sticking the nail in the pith of the 
stalk exposed by cutting it off fi-om the ground, and shaking it to loosen the leaves, hands 
it to a second person, who nails it to the rail, far enough apart to allow of the circula- 
tion of the air throughout. After the crop is in, the doors and shutters should be 
opened all round, so as to allow a strong draught of air to pass through the tobacco and' 
prevent what is technically called " burning." This is literally nothing more than a par- 
tial decomposition of the leaf, consequent upon the exclusion of air from passing through 
it while in the green state, which destroys its quality and texture. When dried it has a 
blackish brown color, and crumbles beneath the touch. When the tobacco is pretty- 
thoroughly cured, and during dry weather, when it is veiy brittle, the high winds that pre- 
vail about that season will damage it very much if allowed to blow through the shed» 
hence at such times the shed should be closed on the sides whence the wind comes, and 
opened again when it has ceased to blow. When the leaves are all dry, or after the wea- 
ther has been severe enough to freeze the remaining green ones, the tobacco is ready to be 
stripped. 

Stripping. — At the setting in of a warm, drizzling, wet, foggy spell of weather, the shed 
must be opened on all sides to allow the damp atmosphere to pervade the whole interior ;, 
after the dry leaves have become damp enough to allow handling in any degree without 
breaking, the stalks must be taken off the lath, or pulled down and laid in heaps about 
eighteen inches or two feet high, and any desired length; if it is not intended to strip it 
immediately, it should be conveyed to a cellar or other apartment, where it will remain 
damp; it should not, however, be suffered to remain longer than two or three days in heaps 
without examination, as there is sometimes sufficient moisture remaining in the stalks or 
frozen leaves to create heat and rot the good tobacco. If found to be heating, it should be 
changed about and aired, and be stripped immediately. If found to be drying out, further 
evaporation may be checked by covering the heaps with damp straw or corn-fodder. To- 
bacco is usually stripped into two qualities, " ground-leaf or " fillers" and " wrappers ;" 
the leaves that lie next the ground, generally from two to four, are always more or less 
damaged by sand beating on by the rain and other causes, hence they only command about 
half the price of the good tobacco or " wrappers." The ground-leaves are taken off firsts 
and tied up separately in bunches or "hands;" this is performed in the following man- 
ner : take off one leaf after another, until there is contained in the hand a sufficient num- 
ber to make a bunch about an inch in diameter at the foot-stalks, which must be kept even 
at the ends, and holding the bunch clasped in one hand, take a leaf and wrap it around 
(beginning at the end of the bunch), confining the end under the first turn, continue to 
wrap smoothly and neatly until about three inches of the leaf remains, then open the 
bunch in the middle, and draw the remaining part of the leaf through. This forms a neat 
and compact " hand," that will bear a great deal of handling without , coming open. 
After the ground leaves have been removed, the good leaves are stripped off and tied up. 
the same as the ground- leaves, with this exception : the leaves of each stalk should be tied 
in a bunch by themselves, to preserve a uniformity in color and size, as tobacco is sold in 
the market according to color and size, therefore if the leaves of a large and a small plant, 
or of a dark colored and a light one, be tied up together, it at once diminishes the appear- 
ance and value of the crop. 



31 

Bulking. — As soon as a quantity of tobacco is stripped it should be "bulked down," 
or if intended to be immediately delivered at the packing-house, put up in bales. A place 
to bulk it in should be damp enough to prevent the tobacco from becoming dry, and not 
damp enough to cause it to mold. A platform raised a few inches from the ground, and 
open to let the air circulate under, must first be laid down, and then the "hands" of to- 
bacco piled upon it crosswise in successive layers, and lapping each other about three or 
four inches at the points of the leaves. If " bulked" beside a wall, a space must be left 
behind for air to pass through to prevent moulding. It may be thus " bulked" four or five 
feet in height without danger of spoiling. In most sections the crop is sold to merchants 
who have packing houses, and who pack it in cases of about three hundred pounds each, 
and store it until it has gone through the " sweating" process, by which it becomes fit for 
manufacturing purposes, and then dispose of it to manufacturers and speculators in the city 
markets. 

Packing. — In order to transport it more readily, it is put up in bales of about one hun- 
dred pounds each. The process of baling is performed thus : make a bottomless box 
about thirty-four inches long (inside) by sixteen high and wide. On each side nail two 
upright cleats, oneanda-half inches thick, each ten inches from the end. Across these 
cleats, parallel and even with the top of the box, nail a narrow strip of board. These strijis 
or rails are to confine and keep the ends of the straw-bands out of the way while packing. 
Now have a duplicate box the same size in length and breadth, but about six inches deep, 
to fit down on the top of the first box ; there must be three notches cut in the bottom of 
each side of this box for the bands to pass through. It should fit down close on the top of 
the true box. There must also be a lid made to slip up and down easily in the box, with 
three notches in each side to allow it to slip past the bands. When ready to pack, have 
good bands made of rye-straw, and wet, to render them more pliable. Twist them, and 
getting inside the box, lay one band down on the ground, with the knot in the middle, and 
within three inches of the end of the box, and place one foot in each corner of the box 
upon the band, then push the ends of the band down between the outside of the box and 
the rail. There must be three bands in all, one at each end and one in the middle. When 
the bands are in the box, the "hands" of tobacco are laid in the same as in the " bulk," 
keeping the ends of the bunches well against the end of the box, until it is filled, then put 
on the lid and press it down with lever or screw, whichever may be most convenient ; after 
it is pressed sufficiently solid, remove the lid, and place the upper box in its proper position, 
fill up to the top with tobacco, and press it down again, and so until the box is sufficiently 
full to come within the limits of the bands to confine. Now remove the upper box and tie 
the middle band first (this prevents the m.ass from expanding further), and lastly, the end 
ones, and give it another pressure to set the bands and restore the shape of the bale ; now 
pull off the box, and there remains a neat, square bale of tobacco, of about one hundred 
pounds' weight, that will bear handling and transportation almost anywhere without injury 
or coming open. If the tobacco should become too dry in the "bulk" to pack, it may be 
restored by sprinkling it lightly with fiot water, using a small corn-broom, and " rebulking" 
it, taking down and sprinkling one layer at a time, and allowing it to remain about two 
days, when the water will have become diffused throughout the whole, and it again be fit 
to pack. 



The true test of the value of a manure is its behavior in the field, 
year after year. No shorter road to this end has yet been found ; and it is 
not probable that any will. 



32 



We beg our Friends to read carefully what follows. 



ANCHOR </T:/ brand 

TOBACCO F E R T I L I Z E R , 



We deemed the information presented in the preceding 
pages of such importance as to insert it without abridgement. 
The space it consumed has accordingly Hmited the number 
of reports we would like to have submitted, showing the 
action of our Tobacco Fertilizer last year. We have re- 
ceived enouoh to fill the book, but must content ourselves 
with those following:. It is with oreat p^ratification that we 
are able to point, from year to year, to such universal success 
in the use of this article. This is the eleventh year it has 
been before the public, and if time is necessary to demon- 
strate the value of such an article, the Anchor Brand Tobacco 
Fertilizer has certainly had this test, and it does not fail. 



Mr. W. E. RoYALi,, of Powhatan county, 

Va., writes : 

You wish to know how the Anchor Brand 
Tobacco Fertilizer acted on my Tobacco crop 
last year. I am perfectly satisfied with the 
result, both on the crop after it was planted 
and also on the plant beds, not making a 
single failure out of six beds prepared. Give 
me plenty of your Fertilizer for my beds, 
aud anybody who prefers ducks may have 
them. I think my crop the best since the 
war, with the exception it is somewhat worm- 
eaten. 

I am glad your company can afford to re- 
duce the price of the Fertilizer. 

Capt. B. F. White, of .-Vlamance county, 

N. C, writes : 

I used in 1876 some of your Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer on old sandy ground, at the rate of 
150 pounds to 4,000 hills. The Tobacco 
grew well and yellowed well on the hill — 
cured yellow and holds its color. It has al- 
ways done better for me than any other 
brand. 



Mr. Samuel Foster, of Davie county, N. 
C, writes : 

I used on my Tobacco last year three 
kinds of fertilizers, side by side, in hill and 
drill, as an experiment, viz. : the Anchor 

Brand, and . I noticed no 

perceptible difterence as to the growth where 

the Anchor and were used, until the 

Tobacco commenced ripening, after which 
there was a marked difference in the yellow- 
ing of the Tobacco, the Anchor being far 
superior in yellowing and curing. 

Mr. S.'V. ArcheRj of Dinwiddle county, 

Va., writes : 

I am glad to inform you that your Tobacco 
F"ertilizer came up to my expectations this 
year, as it has always done heretofore, and 
though we had a severe drought on our 
crops through this section, and the worst 
drought I have ever seen since the war, yet 
with your Fertilizer my crop of Tobacco 
stood it, and has made an average crop. I 
am truly glad to liear that you have reduced 
the price per ton of the Fertilizer ; I intend 



33 



cusing it every year as long as it acts as it has 
•done. 

Mr. W. W. CATTERTON.of Alliemarle coun- 
ty, writes : 
• I used one ton and a half of your Tobac- 
•CO Fertilizer, on eight acres, in the drill, on 
my Tobacco, this year, and am perfectly sat 
isfied that the investment was profitable. My 
crop was remarkably fine in size and quality, 
Tip to the time of cutting, when it was serious- 
ly injured by the storm. I am well con- 
vinced that it is equal to any other commer- 
cial fertilizer I have ever used at any time, 
-either before or since the war; therefore, 
being favorably impressed with its action, 1 
cheerfully recommend it to my friends, and 
Tobacco growers generally. 

Dr. J. A. Fi.lT'PO, of Caroline county, Va., 

writes : 

In reply to your en([uiry as to the action 
■of your Tobacco Fertilizer on my crop the 
past season, I have to state, that it made a 
good crop, and seemed fully up to its usual 
standard of excellence. I have heard simi- 
lar expressions of satisfaction by my neigh 
t)ors who used it last year. 

Mr. Wm. Kies, of Nottoway county, Va., 

writes : 

I used three tons of your Anchor Brand 
Tobacco Fertilizer this year, with great satis- 
faction, on very thin land. With a mode 
>rate application I made Tobacco that will 
compare very favorably with the best lot 
land; made an application on turnips also, 
■which surpassed my expectation. I am of 
the opinion that I can raise anything with 
your "Anchor Brand." Will use it exten- 
sively this year. 

Mr. J. Ravenscroft Jones, of Brunswick 

county, Va., writes : 

I used your Tobacco Fei-tilizer the past 
season, with the same satisfactory results, 
which have uniformly followed its applica 
tion in combination with the home-made 
manures. You are already aware that I con- 
sider all commercial fertilizers only valuable 
to the planter as an adjunct to, not a substi- 
tute for his own domestic supplies of manure. 
The reduction in price is gratifying, and will 
further commend your Fertilizer to the plant- 
ing community. 

[Note. — Mr. Jones, raising heavy ship- 
ping Tobacco, his views are in strict accord 
Vi^ith what we have so continually urged upon 
the producers of this type of Tobacco. The 
growers of such Tobacco need all they can 
command, in the way of manures, both do- 
mestic and chemical.] 



Mr. J. Q. Bass, of Halifax county, Va., 

writes . 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer acted first rate for 
me last season. I have used it for several 
years, and it has always done well for me. 

I used it two years side by side with 

and I did not find any difference in the 
growing of the Tobacco, but believe it yel- 
lows the best from the Anchor Brand ; be- 
sides, I found one bag of yours will go over 
five or six hundred more hills than one bag 

of , and make just as good Tobacco, 

therefore I think yours is the cheapest. I 
expect to get what I need this year of the 
Anchor Brand. 

Mr. R. M. Hall, of Albemarle county, Va., 

writes : 

I used one ton of your Anchor Brand To- 
bacco Fertilizer on my Tobacco crop last 
year. I am more than pleased with it, the 
result being so far beyond my expectations. 
I think I have made between four and five 
thousand pounds of Tobacco. I am satisfied I 
would not have made- one thousand pounds 
without it ; and if I could have planted my 
crop in good time, I believe I would have 
gotten six thousand pounds. I put four hun- 
dred pounds of the Fertilizer to the acre, on 
a piece of piney old field, — all of it that was 
planted forward was very large and ripened 
beautifully. My wheat crop on the land is 
looking very well. I wish to use two tons 
of your Fertilizer this year, and heartily re- 
commend it to all who wish to secure a fine 
Tobacco crop. 

Mr. James Bryant, of Buckingham coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

I only used last year looo pounds of the 
Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer on five acres 
of branch land, white clay soil ; I planted 
about the last of June ; it made a fine start 
and did as well as I could expect, and in- 
deed better, for the wet season put in after I 
had worked over the crop. I left out one 
row, and it made a mere nothing compared 
with the other Tobacco. If the season had 
been a fair one my crop would have been 
entirely satisfactory. I used no guano on 
the other side of the branch (the land 
equal), and I got little or no Tobacco; 
I planted other lands without the P'ertilizer, 
and the turnout was almost nothing. I ex- 
pect to buy largely the coming season of 
yours. 

Mr E. P. Zentmyer, of Patrick county, 

Va., writes : 

All of my friends express themselves en- 
tirely satisfied with the action of the Anchor 
Brand Tobacco Fertilizer, in their efforts to 
secure by its use an active growth and uni- 
form ripening of Tobacco. 



34 



Mess. Hall Brothers, warehousemen at 
Hickory, Catawba county, N. C, have fa- 
vored us with the following letter written 

them : 

Danville, Va., Feb. 9th, 1877. 

Messrs. Hall Brothers, Hickory, N. C: 

Gentlemen : — We do not hesitate to pro- 
nounce the "Anchor Brand" Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer, the most reliable article that is used 
in this fine Tobacco section, and produces a 
finer and better Tobacco than any other Fer- 
tilizer. 

These are the facts told us by our most 
successful planters. From our knowledge 
of your section, we are satisfied that your 
lands are well adapted to the cultivation of 
Tobacco, and we wish you much success. 
Out house handles nearly all the Tobacco 
that comes to this market down the W. N. 
C. Railroad, and whilst they generally have 
colory stock it is very thin and slazy. On 
inqury we find that they do not use fertili- 
zers, which would no doubt make it thicker, 
and hence more valuable in every way. We 
invariably recommend the "Anchor Brand" 
to these planters. 

Yours truly. 
Pace Brothers & Co. 



Mr. y. J. Brooks, of Person county, N. C, 

writes : 

I have used your Anchor Brand Fertilizer 
(commonly known as Gilham's Tobacco 
Fertilizer) for Toliacco and plant beds, for 
the last eight or nine years, and am well 
pleased with its results ; indeed, think it the 
best Fertilizer for producing fine Tobacco 
now in use. 

I have never missed raising Tobacco plants 
in abundance since I have been using it; 
even last Spring, and in the Spring of 1874, 
when there was such a failure in plants, I 
had enough plants to set out my usual crop 
in good time and to spare. 

I think every person who wishes to raise 
bright Tobacco ought to use this Fertilizer. 
It grows the Tobacco of good size, matures 
well, and ripens yellow on the hill, thereby 
making it a fine Tobacco for bright coal or 
flue curing. I have also used it for the last 
two years on my corn crop, and find it acts 
admirably well, ]:)utting about loo pounds to 
the acre, in the hill, and think it increased 
my crop from 50 to loo per cent. 

I use your Fertilizer in the following pro- 
portions : On fresh or new ground about 200 
pounds per acre, and on old field land 300 
pounds per acre, sowing 100 pounds broad- 
cast and 200 pounds in the drill. Sometimes 
I use farm-pen manure and rich dung-hill 
earth dug and scraped from corners and 



around the yard of old houses, with your 
Fertilizer, drilling the manure or earth light- 
ly, and then following with Fertilizer about 
half the above quantities per acre ; this pro- 
cess is the best on thin poor land. • 
I have had good success raising and cur- 
ing bright Tobacco with the above process. 
My crop, consisting from six to eight thou- 
sand pounds Tobacco, has averaged me, for- 
the last five years, from thirty to forty dollars 
per thousand pounds. 

Mr. W. T. Jones, of Orange county, Va.,. 

writes : 

The Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer, 
used by me last year, gave entire satisfac- 
tion ; but this has been my experience with- 
it for several years past. I expect to con- 
tinue its use. 

Mr. H. Fuller Hall, of Louisa county,. 

Va., writes : 

Your Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer- 
gave me perfect satisfaction on my last crop,, 
as it has done heretofore, therefore I shall 
continue to use it, in preference to any other 
fertilizer or guano that can be bought, be- 
lieving it is better for Tobacco than any now 
oftered, Peruvian not excepted. 

Mr. Wm. F. Jones, of Brunswick county,. 

Va., writes : 

I used the Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertili- 
zer last year. I applied 350 pounds to the 
acre, on piney old field. The Tobacco is a 
great deal better than I expected it to be, and 
what has been sold, weighed well. I am- 
highly pleased with the Anchor Brand. 

Mr. R. A. Rash, of Dinwiddle county, Va., 

writes : 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer, and I have 
heretofore used nearly all the fertilizers now 
on the market, and must say, with truth, that 
your brand is superior to any T ever used for 
Tobacco. It produces a rich heavy shipping 
Tobacco, and is superior to stable manure 
for the first year, and it is all that you re- 
commend it to be. Tobacco made from your 
Fertilizer will astonish any practical farmer, 
in weight and quality, that has never used it 
for Tobacco. 

Mr. B. Trueheart, of Amelia county, Va., 

writes : 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer at the rate 
of 300 pounds to the acre upon my Tobacco, 
anil never made better in my life, considering 
the dry season. The crop was planted upon 
ordinary land, without the use of any other 
fertilizer. Your Fertilizer is specially adapted 
to raising Tobacco plants. I shall use it as 
long as it is kept up to its present standard 
and price. 



35 



Mr. S. B. Goodman, of Powhatan county, 

Va. , writes : 

You wish to know how your Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer acted the last season — well I find no 
lault of the Fertilizer; it acted very well. 
As I have always said, it is the best fertilizer 
I have ever used for Tobacco. My crop is a 
small one, but what I did make was large 
and fine. 

Mr. RoBT. J. Barksdale, of Amelia coun- 
ty, Va , writes: 

I am now stripping a fine quality of To- 
bacco made from the application of 400 
pounds of your Tobacco Fertilizer, drilled 
to the acre. I used a moderate application 
of it on a piece of new ground with decided 
effect. 

Mr. George J. Floyd, of Lunenburg coun- 
ty, Va , writes : 

The Anchor Brand Fertilizer which I pur- 
chased last Spring acted finely, considering 
the droughts which we had. Owing to the 
scarcity of plants and bad seasons I did not 
have more than half a stand; consequently 
I could not give it a fair trial, but regard it a 
first-class Fertilizer for Tobacco, and un 
doubted ly the best for turnips I ever saw. I 
raised in my missing Tobacco hills some of 
the finest 1 ever had, some weighing as high 
as nine and a half pounds. 

Mr. C. W. Inge, of Lunenburg county, Va., 

writes : 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer has met my high- 
est expectations. 1\\ my opinion it is the 
best in the market. 

Mr. Richard T. Hallett, of Nottoway 

county, Va., writes: 

The half a ton of your Tobacco Fertilizer 
I purchased last Spring proved satisfactory, 
and made a fine crop of Tobacco on two 
acres of land, by using nearly 800 pounds 
on the same. One bag was used for my tur- 
nip land, about half an acre, and made a re- 
markably fine crop. 

Mr. O. J. Hayes, of Mecklenburg county, 

Va , writes : 

I have no fault to find with your Tobacco 
Fertilizer at all. It did well for me, consid- 
ering the seasons. I can't say that I ever 
used any that I liked better, if as well ; I 
think it is a No. i Fertilizer. 

Mr. S. S. Broaddus, of Caroline county, 

Va., writes : 

I used the Anchor Brand Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer the past season on my crop of Tobac- 
co; was well pleased with the result, and 
take much pleasure in recommending it 
to all tobacco growers. 



Mr. John P. Perkins, of Hanover county,, 

Va., writes : 

I send you my report on your Tobacco 
Fertilizer. I used about 200 pounds to the 
acre, on a gray soil, and it acted like a 
charm. I prefer it to any other for Tobacco. 
It gave it a fine silky texture, which is always 
so desirable in Tobacco. 

Mr. A. A. Loving, of Nelson county, Va.,. 

writes : 

I failed almost entirely in plants, and con- 
sequently did not have an opportunity of a 
fair test as to the merits of your Tobacco 
Fertilizer, but the small quantity of plants I 
did get planted in time, on which I used it, 
grew off finely and ripened well. T am well 
pleased with the Fertilizer, and shall want 
to use it again this year. 

Mr. J. F. Wood, of Powhatan county, Va., 
writes : 

I was much pleased with the action of 
your Tobacco Fertilizer on my Tobacco I 
only succeeded in planting half of my crop. 
in time to ripen, on which I applied about 
500 pounds of the Fertilizer to the acre, 
making two applications, and I think the 
Tobacco was as large and heavy as any I 
ever saw made from stable manure. 

Mr. P. A. Beazeley, of Caroline county, 

Va., reports : 

I have been using the Tobacco Fertilizer 
for the past seven years, and it has done verj" 
well for me, — indeed I have never had any- 
thing but satisfactory returns trom this Fer- 
tilizer. My crop was planted late in July ; 
and it turned out of good quality and did 
not fire, while some of my neighbors who. 
used other fertilizers had theirs to fire. I 
expect to use it continuously. 

Mr. S. H. Hall, of Amelia county, Va., 

writes : 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer is by far the best 
on the market, according to my opinion. I 
have tried it side by side with No. I Peru- 
vian, and much preferred it. If it keeps on 
as good as it has been, I think every farmer 
will use it in preference to the (so called) 
Peruvian. I have used all kinds of fertili- 
zers, and it is the best that I ever tried. I 
am glad you have reduced the price. It 
beats all other fertilizers for Tobacco and 
potatoes I have ever seen about here. 

Mr. R. G. Dickinson, of Spotsylvania 

county, Va., writes: 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer acted well on my 
crop. I sowed between four and five hun- 
dred pounds to the acre, on poor land, and 
the yield was very satisfactory. I expect to., 
try it again this year. 



36 



"Mr. B. H. Perkins, of Goochland county, 

Va., writes : 

I used last year nearly a ton of your 
Tobacco Fertilizer on my Tobacco crop. 
Owing to the unusal dry weather which 
prevailed in this section last summer I 
failed to get a good stand. Where I did 
get a stand I was pleased with the re- 
•sult. I like it so well that I expect to try it 
• again this year. It acted splendidly on my 
plant beds. 

Mr. Abram Faris, of Cumberland county, 

Va., writes : 

You wish to know how your Anchor 
Brand Tobacco Fertilizer acted for me the 
last season. I applied 400 pounds to the 
acre, and made a very good crop of Tobac- 
co. Have used several kinds of Fertilizers, 
and consider this the best in use ; expect to 
buy it again next Spring. 

Mr. D. M. Wharton, of Westmoreland 

county, Va , writes: 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer the past 
season on Tobacco, and its action on the 
crop was satisfactory. The application was 
large — from 400 to 500 pounds — on land 
that had grown Tobacco the two preceding 
years, and the Tobacco was large. But an 
unusually wet season, a heavy storm in Sep- 
tember and the depredation of worms dam- 
aged it seriously, l)oth in quality and quan- 
tity. 

I have used the Fertilizer before, and I 
shall wish to continue to use it so long as 
■my convictions of its value are sustained by 
future results. 

Mr. C. H. Chishoi.m, of King William 

county, Va., writes: 

I used eight bags of your Tobacco Fertil- 
izer last year, on poor land, and" made as 
good a crop as on regularly manured land; 
and so will buy more the coming season. 

Mr. H. T. RuYNE, of Mecklenburg county, 

Va., writes : 

I tried last season some of your Anchor 
iBrand Tobacco Fertilizer, — and it doul)led 
■'the yield on some old sandy bottom land. 
I have not yet tried it on red land. I have 
a high opinion of the fertilizer. 

Mr R. S. Osborne, of Nottoway county, 

Va., writes : 

I have always thought well of the Anchor 
Brand Fertilizer, and used it in preference to 
any other. In compliance with your re- 
quest to state how it acted this year, 
I would say that that part of my crop on 
which it was applied and planted early was 
very fine Tobacco. The other planted late 
was small and late, but has good body. I 



think that your Fertilizer, applied properly 
on well prepared lands, will make a better 
sample of Tobacco than any I have ever 
used. 

Experience teaches me that no fertilizer 
will pay on lands that have not a sufficiency 
of vegetable matter in them. I have made 
fine Tobacco with 150 pounds of your Fer- 
tilizer to the acre; but it was well-prepared 
new land, rather than old field pine land. 

Mr. James E. Williams, of Prince Edward 

county, Va., writes : 

I have used your Anchor Brand Tobacco 
Fertilizer side by side with two other stand- 
ard fertilizers, and the result was decidedly 
in favor of the Anchor. 

Mr. M. B. Hurt, of the same county, 

writes : 

I used one and a half tons of your An- 
chor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer, on ten acres 
land, 40,000 hills, and made the best crop I 
have made in twenty years. The plants 
were set out the first week in June, and the 
crop housed the fir.^t week in October. I 
think the crop will weigh 10,000 pounds. 
I also used one ton of your Old Dominion 
Fertilizer on corn, and was well pleased 
with it. 

Dr. Georue B. Stephens, of Albemarle 
county, Va., writes: 

I am glad to see the reduction made in 
the price of your Anchor Brand Tobacco 
Fertilizer. I think more of our planters 
will take hold of it next season than last. 

My experience the past season with the 
Anchor Brand on my Tobacco crop was 
very satisfactory. I have, since 1865, used 
every year upon my Tobacco crop fertilizers 
of various kinds, yet none of them have 
given me as much satisfaction as the Anchor 
Brand. 

Notwithstanding the season for raising 
plants, setting them and growing a crop of 
Tobacco, was the most unfavorable I ever 
knew, all of my crop planted by 1st of July 
made a splendid return ; the leaf was large, 
heavy, of fine body and altogether free from 
firing. I used 250 pounds to the acre sowed 
in the drill. Two of my tenants, Messrs. 
Wash and Harris, used one ton on thirty 
thousand hills. They had plants in time to 
set out their crops by ist of July. Their 
land was only moderately good, yet they 
made a splendid crop for any season ; I think 
double what it would have made without the 
Fertilizer. Their crops throughout will make 
a pound to every four plants, of rich, ripe 
Tobacco. No firing or specking in their 
crops. They are greatly pleased with it, and 
like myself will use it again. 



37 



Capt. J. W. Harper, of Brunswick county, 

Va., writes : 

On all my five places, your Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer last year did well. 

Mr. James C. Martin, of Goochland coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

I purchased one thousand pounds of 
your Anchor Brand Tobacco "Fertilizer 
last Sprmg, which I applied to about three 
acres planted in Tobacco the 1st of June, 
and made the finest crop I have made since 
1868. A good portion of the crop was large, 
rich and waxy. Those who have used your 
Fertilizer in this vicinity are pleased with its 
action on Tobacco I never used any of 
your Fertilizer until the past season, and was 
very much pleased with the result. 

Mr. B. G. BoiSSEAU, of Dinwiddie county, 

Va., writes : 

I have used your Tobacco Fertilizer (An- 
chor Brand) for two years, and am entirely 
pleased with it. The past season it was 
very satisfactory. Where I obtained a stand 
it cured up a dark, heavy Tobacco. 

Ml". G. F. Shepherd, of Iredell county, N. 

C., writes : 

Your "Tobacco Fertilizer" gave entire 
satisfaction the past season in this vicinity. 
There will be a large crop planted this year, 
if nothing prevents. 

Mess. Morrison, Gaither & Co., of the 

same county, write : 

Wherever your Tobacco Fertilizer has 
been used in this section, all hands report 
themselves satisfied. 

We get from Alamance county, N. C, the 
following : 

We used last year some of the Old Domin- 
ion on Corn and Tobacco Fertilizer on To- 
bacco, and found the results very satisfactoiy. 
We will use it another year. We have used 
the Tobacco Fertilizer for several years, aud 
have never found it to fail of making excel 
lent crops with favorable seasons. 

L. B McAdam, 
Eli McAdam, 
J C. Vincent, 
G. D. Vincent, 
Clay Murray. 
George Florence. 
Mess. Pfohl &. Stockton, of Winston, 
the most westerly Tobacco market of impor- 
tance in North Carolina, inform us that the 
Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer " rules 
the roast" in their region of country, as 
nothing else has yet approached it in the 
production of fine yellow Tobacco. 



Mes>. T. A. Ratlikke & Bro., Rocking^- 

ingham county, N. C, write: 

The report to us is that your Tobacco Fer- 
tilizer does not act so well on poor worn out 
old fields as it does on new ground, or second 
year's land ; but where the soil is at all fer- 
tile it produces good crops of Tobacco, and 
planters say they can cure it brighter than 
that rniscd by Peruvian Guano. 

Mess. Bailey Brothers, of Iredell county, 

N. C, write: 

We find, from our friends who used it, 
that the Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer 
has given general satisfaction. 

Mr. S. A. White, of Alamance county, N. 
C, writes : 

Capt. B. F. White reports the Tobacco 
Fertilizer acted finely for him, and paid him 
better than any investment made by him last 
year. He used a few bags only (see elsewhere 
what he says), J. C. Vincent, Eli McAdams, 
Clay Murray, Levi McAdams, J. R. Williams 
and George Florence, of Pleasant Grove, all 
used a few bags, and say that it did well. 

Mr. Stafford Robertson, of Nottoway 

county, Va., writes : 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer acted well for 
me this year. I made large and heavy To- 
bacco with it on thin land ; will want more 
in the Spring. 

Mr. Jos. C. England, of Hanover county, 
j Va., writi's . 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer on my To- 
bacco this year, and I am so well pleased with 
; its result will continue to use it, preferring it 
I to any fertilizer I ever used on Tobacco. 

I Mr. P. F. COGBILL, of Petersburg, Va., 
writes : 

i In every case reported to me, where your 
Tobacco Fertilizer was used, entire satisfac- 
tion with it was expressed. 

Mr. Edward S. Bumpass, of Hanover 

county, Va., writes : 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer last year ; 
I dressed my land with farm-pen and stable 
manures ; I put 200 pounds of your Fertili- 
zer to the acre. I made a fine crop of To- 
bacco. I think the Fertilizer stands the dry 
weather better ihan any other. 

Mr. J. L. Weaver, of Prince Edward coun- 
ty, Va , writes: 

I used your Tobacco Fertilizer last year. 
A portion of my crop was planted on the 
27th of May, and some as late as the 4th of 
A I gust The early plantings did well, keep- 
tho Tobacco green and ripened up beauti- 
ful and heavy. 



38 



"Mr. Thomas R. Jordan, of Halifax coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

I have to say that the Anchor Brand To- 
"bacco Fertilizer gave entire satisfaction du- 
ring the past season. In fact, during the 
four years I have been handling it, I have 
not a single instance to note of a customer 
finding fault with it. I believe it has come 
to be generally understood that for this — the 
bright Tobacco section — the Anchor Brand 
is best. 

Mr. Thomas N. Sale, of Bedford county, 

Va., writes : 

I applied about 400 pounds of your An- 
chor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer on my crop 
last year. The season was unpropitious and 
•difficult for plants— for planting, for grow- 
ing and for ripening of the crop. Notwith- 
standing these difficulties, the action of the 
Fertilizer was most decided and powerfui. 
As long as you have on the market the same 
article, I think you deserve the patronage of 
the planters. 

Mr. W. M. Reynolds, of Louisa county, 

Va., writes : 

I used the Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertili- 
zer on my Tobacco crop last Spring — three 
hundred pounds to the acre; the Tobacco is 
very large and leafy and ripened well, with 
good body. I expect to use v. again the 
present year. 

.Mr J. S. Faulconer, of Spotsylvania coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

It gives me pleasure to say to you that the 
Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer gaye entire 
■satisfaction. 1 tried it side by side with 

, using four hundred pounds 6f 

to the acre, and only two hundred of the 

Anchor Brand. The was planted 

some days first and yet the Anchor Brand 
maile the best Tobacco. I shall use yours 
on all of my crop the coming seasor. 

Mr. George T Johnson, of G<jochland 
county, Va., writes : 

I used your Tobacco Fertili; er last year, 
and notwithstanding the droagh': it acted 
finely. I think my crop was much 1 setter 
last year than it was the year before ; in fact 
I regard your Fertilizer as superior to any I 
ever used. 

Mr. C. C. Paris, of Charlotte coi^nty, Va., 

writes : 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer in'.ted very satis 
factorily for me last year. 

Messrs. Maclin & Goodwy.n, Tobacco In 
spectors, Petersburg, Va., w ■ite : 
The Anchor Brand Toh:i< CO* Fertilizer 

gives universal satisfaction. 



Mr. W. L. Hackett, of Buckingham coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

I have to say that your Tobacco Fertilizer 
which I used acted well ; I put two bags on 
5000 hills of creek bottom land of good 
quality, except some poor washed places in 
it, that I thought would not make much ; 
but to straighten my rows had to work 
through ; I dropped the Fertilizer in the 
hill, and when I got to the washed places I 
made the application a little heavier. The 
result was the Tobacco grew up uniformly, 
and in the poorest places was as large as in 
the richest land, a great many plants weigh- 
ing nearly a pound after stripped. 

Mr. Samuel C. Harris, of Louisa county, 

Va., writes : 

I used your Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertil- 
izer on my Tobacco crop last Spring, and I 
have the finest and the largest crop I ever 
raised. I have no hesitation in saying it is 
the best result I ever had from any fertilizer 
whatever. 

Mess. Payne & Gravely, of Henry coun- 
ty, Va., write : 

Your Tobacco Fertilizer is highly esteemed 
by all who used it last season. Its results 
will show an excellent display of fine sam- 
ples of Tobacco. 

Mr. Richard Tinder, of Spotsylvania 
county, Va., writes : 

In reply to your inquiry about the An- 
I chor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer used on my 
Tobacco last year, I have to say it gave en- 
tire satisfaction. I expect to use it again 
I this year. 
t 

I Mr. Paul G. Camp, of Caroline county, 
Va., writes : 

I cheerfully give my testimony in favor of 
your Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer. I 
tried it on Tobacco and Turnips, and the re- 
sult in both cases was highly satisfactory. 

Mr. C. A. Scott, of Albemarle county, Va., 
writes : 

Your Anchor Brand Tobacco Fertilizer 
pays well when used liiserally ; and I have 
always recommended it to my neighbors. 

Mr. John L. Motley, of y^melia county, 

Va., writes : 

I have to say that your Tobacco Fertilizer 
acted remarkably well for me last year. 

Mr. Thos. p. Purdie, of Chesterfield coun- 
ty, Va., writes : 

For many years I have been using fertili- 
zers, and of almost every knid that is in the 
market. I take great pleasure in saying to 
you that yours is the best I have ever used, 



39 



and I must say I prefer yours on Tobacco to 
Peruvian, from the fact that it makes it much 
"heavier. The growth is not so quick, but 
there is a great deal more weight in the To- 
bacco. That I liought of you last year 
acted like a charm. 

[Note. — The late Dr. Madison Pen- 
dleton, of Louisa county, demonstrated, in 
the most thorough manner, what is urged 
for our Tobacco Fertilizer, in the matter of 
•weight. We have a long season, and our 
endeavor is to arrange the Fertilizer so as to 
be of service to the end. It does not give 
■out^ 

Mr, Spencer C. Vaughan, of Mecklenburg 

county, Va., writes : 

The i'obacco Fertilizer bought from you 
last spring was used for tobacco on sandy 
soil which had been cultivated for a number 
■of years. 

I applied it in drills. The plants started 
off well, growing regularly, ripening uni- 
formly, and producing an unusually good 
crop of tobacco, a large portion of which I 
•class as fine yellow wrappers. 

I attribute my success solely to the use of 
your fertilizer, which I consider the best I 
-ever used, Peruvian not excepted. I also 
used it on plant beds, and was the only one 
in the vicinity with a sufficiency of plants to 
supply my neighbors. 

I also tried it on vegetables with great suc- 
cess, and particularly on sweet potatoes, ap- 
plied in the hill, it acted splendidly, 

Mr. H. 11. Dyson, of Nottoway county, Va., 

writes : 

The fertilizer purchased of you last spring 
I intended to use on lot land, but owing to 
•scarcity of plants was unable to plant but 
little on lot, so I used a part of the guano on 
27,000 new ground hills; prepared the land 
thoroughly, ploughed with double plow, and 
then rcploughcd with single Dagoii, and 
raked well; then laid off rows as I would lot 
land, and drilled the guano, using about 200 
lbs. to the acre. On two rows through this 
land I used none. The difference from 
planting to time of cutting was so percep 
tible as to make the appearance of two rows 
being cut out. Many of my neighbors 
■\'iewed the difference with astonishment. 
My tobacco was gieen from planting to cut- 
ting, and cured up very dark, making as 
large heavy shipping tobacco as I ever grew 
on lot land. I don't think the people of 
this section will use any other manure in fu 
ture; certainly they ought not to ; think my 
-crop was doubled by the application above 
xeferred to. 

Lack of space stops us here. We have 
M.ters from the following named gentlemen 



of thej same favorable import as the forego- 
ing, asi from others whose names even we 
cannot; give. We refer to then all w'ith the 
greatest pleasure: Danville, Va. — Maj.W.T. 
SutherliiA and all the tobacco w^arehousemen 



there. 



nil at Durham, Reidsville and Win- 
ston. G.'anville county, N. C. — T. M. 
Lyon,E. E. Lyon, G. W. Watkins, M. L. 
Daniel, J, A. Watkins, J. H. Webb & Co. and 
J. B. Eilii'tt. Notto-uay county, Va.~V. C. 
Marker, W. E. Oliver, Saml. A, Leneare, 
Th. Jefferson, J. E. Perkinson, Miller & 
Fowike*!, Dr. W. T. Warriner. IVestmorelana 
county, Va. — G. W. Blakiston. Ajnelia 
county, Va. — -S. Scott, J. L. Townes, R. W. 
Harden, J. W. Layne, Peter Brewer, Th. Y. 
Tabb, K. II. Beverley, J. R. Dunnavant, Dr. 
W J. Oheatham. Albemarle county, Va. — 
A. W. Martin, A. D. Harlow, James Powell. 
Nelson county, Va. — M. H. Spotts Buck- 
ingham county, Va. — Wm. M. Swoope, C. 
Glover, James B. Ficklen. Cumberland 
county, Va. — Capt. E. R. Cocke. Halifax 
county, Va. — Maj. R L. Ragland. Foin- 
hatan county, Va. — Wm. H. Gordon, V. 
Walthall, E. B. Salmon, C. B. Goodman & 
Bro. I'xing William county, Va. — Mr. Jas. 

te writes us, that in no single instance 

give 



county. 



G. Wh 

has out Tobacco Fertilizer failed to 
satisfaci ipn in his region. Pat7-ick county. 
Va. — F [."(). Broadus, Green Penn, and J. P. 
Critz. Appomattox county, Va. — Geo. Ab- 
bott, Sr , W. A. Tanner, W. A. Trent, ThosV 
D. Walton, John H. Tanner. Carolirr\ 



Va.—]. H. Marshall, F. G. Clai- 



borne, J. L. Cobb, C. W. Tompkins, Alex. \ 
J. Pugh, H. W. Broaddus, G. W. Fuller, W. \ 
H. Jorc an, R. A.Wright, H. Durrett, D. 
Webste -, B. E. Pollard, H. A. Ware, R. 
Freema 1, B. F. Taylor, S. W. Allen, W. J. 
Sale, A R. Flippo, A. S. Beazley, G. W. 
Blanton, N. H. Carneal, W. G. Garrett, D. 
H. Ycaicr. S. E. Swann. Hanover county, 

Tdt.— ivff. A. Waldrop*, J. P. Harris, T. M. 
Perkins,! A. G. Ware. Spotsylvajiia county, 

Va. — Tfios. S. Young, P>ank Tompkins. 
Charlotte county, Va. — Maj. R V. Gaines. 

Dinwidllie county, Va. — N. P. Branch, R. 
C. Hardy, J. P. Tucker. Louisa county, 

Vo.—kL F. Moss, J. M. Baker, C. D. Par- 
rish, C I A. and J. Perkins, C. Gooch — 
Meckle?thurg county. Va. — M. A. Barnes. 
Chesterfield county, Va. — S. Y. Gilliam, &c. 



anchor brand 
TobAcco Fertilizer, 

,^55 per*Ton at Factory. ^^ 

\ . '^ 

Agents eui all important points (i^^ttghout 

the Tobacco regio.yi. 




022 265 619 



OFFICE: 1321 GARY STREET. 



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